2004

There are valid U.S. trademark registrations for the mark PING PONG covering, uh, table tennis stuff, stating a date of first use of 1902.  The original registrant was Parker Brothers.

History of Ping Pong here.

Cats playing ping pong from here.

UPDATE:  A loyal Trademark Blog reader emails me to advise that (1)

In September 2003 I wrote a piece about an infringement case involving use of the VUITTON mark on ‘bondage masks and genital cuffs.’  I then noted: “Now, when someone Googles ‘genital cuffs,’ this site will rank highly.  Great.”

Today, as a result of that piece, someone came here searching  the term “Genital Bondage.”

Hello, sir or madam, can