Medieval and Renaissance trademarks

Twelfth century: Trade guilds begin to use distinguishing marks.

Thirteenth century: Bell makers start using marks. Watermarks first appear in Italy.

1266: Earliest English law on trademarks: The Bakers Marking Law. Some bakers stamp a mark on the bread, others prick it.

1353: Statute passed enabling merchants whose goods had been pirated to provide evidence of ownership using marks.

1365: The Cutlers obtain protection for their monopoly and their marks in London, requiring registration with city officials.

1373: Bottle-makers are required to place a mark on bottles and other vessels for identification purposes.

1452: Earliest known trademark litigation: A widow is granted the use of her husband’s mark.

1618: First recorded case of trademark infringement (Southern v. How). A cloth manufacturer is found guilty of appropriating the mark of another clothier and using it on lower quality material.