So, I got the flu over the holidays. It’s basically passed me – although it’s not entirely out of the house – and I figured I should at least turn several miserable days into a bit of blog content. I did some research about brands and the flu – not brands for flu PRODUCTS, but brands that include the word FLU or INFLUENZA.

As you would expect, many of these are influenza-related. That more interesting part are probably the non-flu related uses that clearly refer to influenza, and aren’t just coincidental uses of the abbreviation. There were only a handful, and a number included a second word that made the use of FLU a positive comparison, like FLU SHOT. In short: the influenza virus does not have any of the brand cachet that, say, a powerful and ill-tempered animal like a wolverine does. Alas, it’s not build some “bad boy” street cred just by being amazingly destructive — a thing must look stylish in the process. Diseases fall short, and just aren’t that useable as brands.

Some representative marks:

41: A FLU SHOT FOR YOUR HOUSE, pending for germ remediation services.
33: FLU SHOT for booze.
28: FLU-FLU for fishing lure (maybe this has some fishing-related meaning?).
25: FLU for clothing (filed by Fort Lewis College; possibly an acronym of some sort?); FLU GAME for clothing; THE VEGAS FLU for clothing.
18: GIRL FLU for carrying cases.
9, 24, 25: FISH FLU for clothing and such.

The following counts are for active applications or registrations that are focused on flu treatment or prevention, or merchandizing like clothing associated with those treatment or prevention efforts. This is counting by class, and a number of the applications in ancillary classes are by a couple of applicants in the “inform you about the risks of the flu” space. On the whole: as you would expect, most filings are for remedies in Class 5 and medical services in Class 44. There was little specialized medical equipment in Class 10.

3: 1
5: 30
9: 3
10: 2
16: 2
18: 2
25: 5
30: 2
35: 13
36: 3
41: 6
42: 9
44: 22

In conclusion, our considered corporate opinion is: really, don’t get the flu this year. It isn’t fun.