Looks like the Vuvuzela belongs to the people of South Africa - nobody owns the patent. The Vuvuzela remains in public domain. ( at least for the time being)
In an article in BizCommunity.com, Charl van Rooyen explains:
According to the records of the South African Registrar of Trade Marks, 40 trademark applications, by numerous persons and entities, have been filed over the past eight years for the registration of trademarks incorporating vuvuzela. These trademark applications are in relation to a wide variety of goods and services.
Since 2004 applications have been made for “plastic trumpets” and “musical instruments” but all of the vuvuzela trademarks are still pending, which means that now no single party can claim to be the registered proprietor of the vuvuzela trademark in South Africa.
So, I guess this means we can now relax and just enjoy the vuvuzela’s without trying to fight about “ownership”.
Popularity: 10% [?]
[...] And just when we thought it was all over, the Shembe’s (Nazareth Baptist Church) decided to claim the Vuvuzela. [...]