In the UK, Plastico Limited registered Spork as a trademark in relation to cutlery with effect from September 18, 1975 (reg. no. 1052291, now expired). The trademark is also registered in the UK in relation to gardening tools in the name of the same UK based individual who owns US trademark registration no. 2514381. Another British company, Lifeventure, sells titanium and plastic versions using the name "Forkspoon". In an unsuccessful lawsuit in 1999 where the company Regalzone sought to invalidate Plastico Limited's UK registration for Spork, Justice Neuberger wrote: Materials and uses Materials such as stainless steel, silver, aluminum, titanium,copper and polycarbonate plastic have been used in spork manufacturing. Plastic sporks are common in prisons in the United States because they are difficult to form into shiv-type weapons to attack other inmates. Prepackaged meals may come with a disposable plastic spork. Sporks are also frequently used by backpackers, Boy Scouts and other outdoorspeople as they are a lightweight and space-saving alternative to carrying both a fork and spoon. In popular culture The Disney/Pixar animated movie Toy Story 4 introduces a character named Forky, an animated spork voiced by Tony Hale. See also (spoon-fork in Finnish) References D. Green & Co. (Stoke Newington) Ltd. and Plastico Ltd. v Regalzone Ltd. [2002] ETMR 241 (CA) External links The Straight Dope on sporks The spork’s weird history, Bee Wilson, Salon American inventions Eating utensils Forks Portmanteaus Spoons