While it appears patent applications directed to sports energy formulations continue to increase, this is solely driven by patent filings in China. Patent applications for sports energy formulations have fallen every year since 2013 in other major patent offices. This mirrors the emergence of China as an intellectual property (IP) superpower, as China is now the No. 1 patent filing country in the world. The increasing interest in sports energy formulations in China also indicates a new market for consumers seeking to support exercise and physical health.

In addition to using patent data to look at trends, trademark filings may indicate brand strategies. Two of the most common goods for sports nutrition energy are energy bars and energy drinks. Energy bars are classified in the same class as dietary supplements, while energy drinks are classified along with beverages. Sports energy drinks appear in 7,509 trademark applications and registrations, while sports energy bars appear in 1,592 applications and registrations. This may indicate a market preference for sports energy products in liquid form.

A key aspect of a trademark application or registration is, of course, the brand name itself. Within sports energy drink and bar trademarks do not appear any standout terms. This may indicate a broad market with a large number of participants and a large number of distinct names. The trademark trends for sports nutrition products show the market continues to grow at a steady pace and there is room for innovative brands.

Learn more about IP trends for sports energy in INSIDER’s Sports Nutrition Energy Digital Magazine.

Attorney Andreas Baltatzis is a director at KramerAmado PC, a boutique law firm specializing in intellectual property (IP). He represents a number of innovative nutritional supplement and nutraceutical companies that improve people’s lives every day. Baltatzis also helps companies prepare and implement IP strategies by obtaining patents and trademarks that protect their innovations and cash flow, as well as advising clients on successfully launching new products and brands.

Gideon Eckhouse is a senior associate at KramerAmado, with more than 10 years of experience in patents and trademarks. He assists innovative nutritional supplement and nutraceutical companies in protecting their IP throughout the world. Eckhouse counsels and implements global trademark strategies for new brand launches. Additionally, he prepares and prosecutes patent portfolios protecting new products coming to market.