Miami, FL – April 23, 2020 – Greenspoon Marder attorneys Leslie José Zigel and Justin McNaughton successfully secured a trademark for Pitbull’s signature grito “EEEEEEEYOOOOOO.” The yell has joined a list of fewer than 40 sounds that are protected by a trademark and is the first sound trademarked by a music artist for sound recordings. 
Mr. McNaughton and Mr. Zigel served as the legal team who worked to obtain the trademark registration. The team, together with Ryan Kairalla of Ryan A. Kairalla P.A. and Pitbull himself, recently authored an article in the NYU Journal of Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law detailing how the signature grito was developed and what makes it so unique.
“Pitbull joins an extremely exclusive club in relation to these trademarks because his yell is so predominant and recognizable. This allowed us to distinguish the grito as more than just a sound, but a signature yell,” says Mr. Zigel.
This is a landmark trademark for the music industry, and other superstars may soon follow Pitbull’s example. As stated in the NYU article, “In terms of efficiency, there is no better way to stamp a sound recording than with a unique sound. Given the prevalence of these call signs throughout the music industry, it is only a matter of time before other music superstars embrace this valuable branding protection and seek to obtain registration for their unique sonic signatures, and they would be wise to do so.”
Leslie José Zigel is a partner and Chair of Greenspoon Marder’s Entertainment, Media & Technology Industry Group. Mr. Zigel focuses on both the creative and business sides of the entertainment industries in the music, television, film and new technology sectors. His practice includes counseling clients in entertainment talent negotiations, record contracts, music and book publishing, providing outside general counsel services and assisting companies with corporate structuring, financing, operations, sales and acquisitions, trademarks, copyrights and employment advice.
Justin McNaughton is a patent & trademark attorney with Greenspoon Marder. As a trademark attorney, he assists clients in protecting the hard earned goodwill their brands represent. He particularly enjoys difficult trademark areas, such as protecting cannabis brands and securing non-traditional trademarks, such as sounds.