Bird on a Wire’s mention of Lucasfilm suing Dr Dre for using their THX sound dredged up an old memory of Harley-Davidson trying to take action against another motorcycle manufacturer who had developed a bike with that signature Harley sound. Harley-Davidson decided to apply to trademark their engine’s distinctively loud putt putt, which this WSJ article describes as “syncopated” and “like saying ‘potato-potato-potato'”. MGM’s lion roar and NBC’s three tone bongs have been trademarked. The trademark search database has a listing for Harley-Davidson’s application, which reads “The mark consists of the exhaust sound of applicant’s motorcycles, produced by V-Twin, common crankpin motorcycle engines when the goods are in use.” Its current status: “An opposition is now pending at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.” I suppose that other motorcycle maker is asserting their right to also add to our landscape’s sound pollution.