The first Star Wars film (subtitled Episode IV: A New Hope in 1981) premiered on May 25, 1977. “May the Force be with you!” was a popular line in the film; “The Force” s a binding, metaphysical, and ubiquitous power.
 
Star Wars fans provided the joke “May the Fourth be with you” (May 4th) in 1977 and 1978. “May the Fourth Be With You” (in reference to July 4th) was printed in the Washington (DC) Evening Star on July 1, 1977. “Gloria Kasdan’s third- and fourth-grade classes at Vannoy School in Castro Valley are fixing up exhibits on space for a showing this week, appropriately called ‘Close Encounters of the Third Grade’ and ‘May the Fourth Be With You’” was printed in the Oakland (CA) Tribune on April 4, 1978, referring to fourth grade.
 
New Musical Express published on May 6, 1978, a reference to May 4th:
     
“MAY the Fourth be with you.
MONTY ZAPPED-OUT, Radio Brampton”
     
“May the Fourth be with you”—with a clear Star Wars theme—referred to July 4th in advertisements for Kaufmann’s department store in the Pittsburgh (PA) Press on June 29 and July 3, 1978.
 
“May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations” was printed in the London (UK) Evening News on July 4, 1979, referring to the day Margaret Thatcher took office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. This is often incorrectly cited as the first printed use of the phrase.
     
“May the Force be with you” does not have an active trademark, but Lucasfilm has an active trademark on “May the Fourth be with you.”
   
“Happy Star Wars Day” and “May the 4th be with you” were cited in the newsgroup rec.arts.sf.starwars on May 4, 1994. “Happy Star Wars Day - May the 4th be with you!” was cited on Twitter on May 4, 2007.
   
   
Wikipedia: Star Wars 
Star Wars is an American epic space opera franchise, centered on a film series created by George Lucas. It depicts the adventures of various characters “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away”.
 
The film series began on May 25, 1977 with the release of the film Star Wars (subtitled Episode IV: A New Hope in 1981) by 20th Century Fox, which became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon.
 
Wikipedia: Star Wars Day
Star Wars Day, May 4, celebrates Star Wars created by George Lucas. It is observed by fans of the films. Observance of the holiday spread quickly due to Internet, social media, and grassroots celebrations.
 
The date was chosen for the easy pun on the catchphrase “May the Force be with you”— “May the Fourth be with you”. Even though the holiday was not actually created or declared by Lucasfilm, many Star Wars fans across the world choose to celebrate the holiday.
 
History
Apocryphally, the reference was first used on May 4, 1979, the day Margaret Thatcher took office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. An online news article from the Danish public broadcaster says her political party, the Conservatives, placed a congratulatory advertisement in a paper mis-named The London Evening News, saying “May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations.”
 
Wikipedia: The Force (Star Wars)
The Force is a binding, metaphysical, and ubiquitous power in the fictional universe of the Star Wars franchise created by George Lucas. Introduced in the first Star Wars film (1977), it is wielded primarily by the Jedi and Sith monastic orders and is a part of all subsequent Star Wars works, including the Star Wars Legends collection of comic books, novels, and video games. The line “May the Force be with you”, spoken in each of the Star Wars films, has become part of the pop culture vernacular and is iconic of the series.
 
Depiction
In the original Star Wars film (1977), later dubbed A New Hope, the Force is first described by Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi:
 
The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.
 
Later entries in the series would give added information on the nature of the Force.
 
All energy from the Living Force, from all things that have ever lived, feeds into the Cosmic Force, binding everything and communicating to us through the midi-chlorians.
         
1 July 1977, Washington (DC) Evening Star, pg. B-3:
May the Fourth Be With You
These clues and warnings (with appropriate salutations and hurrahs) come to you from Judy Flander, Benjamin Forgey, Denis E. Horgan, Dennis John Lewis, Diana McLeilan, Charlie McCollum, Bailey Morris and John Walter.
(This is in reference to the Fourth of July. See the tweet by Bill Mullins on May 6, 2022.—ed.)
 
Newspapers.com
4 April 1978, Oakland (CA) Tribune, Bill Fiset column, pg. 13, col. 1:
Gloria Kasdan’s third- and fourth-grade classes at Vannoy School in Castro Valley are fixing up exhibits on space for a showing this week, appropriately called “Close Encounters of the Third Grade” and “May the Fourth Be With You.”
   
6 May 1978, New Musical Express, “Pussbag” by M. Smiff, pg. 62, col. 5:
MAY the Fourth be with you.
MONTY ZAPPED-OUT, Radio Brampton
   
Newspapers.com
29 June 1978, Pittsburgh (PA) Press, pg. A-19, col. 3 ad:
“MAY THE FOURTH
BE WITH YOU”
AT KAUFMANN’S,
JULY 4TH
 
Newspapers.com
3 July 1978, Pittsburgh (PA) Press, pg. A-10 full page ad:
MAY THE FOURTH
BE WITH YOU
AT KAUFMANN’S
July 4th, Downtown, 9:30-5
   
29 July 1978, The Globe and Mail (Toronto, ON), “Tasty Tidbits and Palette-able Prose” by Dennis Burton, pg. 31, col. 1:
4/5/78 On the fourth day of May, 1978, it was my wife’s birthday, our 7-year-old daughter, Malhyet, said to her: “I didn’t have any money to buy you a present for your birthday, Mamsay, but…may the fourth be with you!”
 
19 March 1979, Broadcasting, pg. 64, col. 1:
The word to NATPE: May the fourth be with you
         
Newspapers.com
3 July 1979, The World (Coos Bay, OR), “Zoonies” comic strip by Craig Leggett, pg. 16, col. 5:
HERE, ELWOOD, HOLD THIS.
(Elwood holds a rocket, and he flies off.—ed.)
MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU.
(Referring to July 4th.—ed.)
 
Google Groups: rec.arts.sf.starwars
STAR WARS DAY
James Clayton (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) 0522 502284)
5/4/94
Happy Star Wars Day
May the 4th be with you.
 
Google Groups: rec.arts.sf.starwars
Happy Star Wars Day
Angela Boyko
5/3/95
On Thu, 4 May 1995, Jeff Hills wrote:
 
> Let me be the first to say May the 4th be with you.
>
> Happy Star Wars Day
>
>
ROTFLAICGU!!!!!
 
May the 4th be with you too!
 
Google Groups: rec.arts.sf.starwars
MAY THE 4th BE WITH YOU (yeah)
FABIO CESAR RIVERA
5/4/95
This day should be known as Star Wars Day from now on, what do you think?
 
Google Groups: rec.arts.sf.starwars.misc
Star Wars Day: May the 4th be with you…?
Keith A. Schneider
5/5/96
I hadn’t seen anyone post this yet… just wanted to remind everyone.
keith
 
Twitter
Tim Bennett
‏@flashman
happy star wars day! may the fourth be with you.
1:20 AM - 4 May 2007
 
Twitter
Luca Belletti
‏@lucabelletti
Happy Star Wars Day - May the 4th be with you!
2:53 AM - 4 May 2007
 
5 May 2009, Chicago (IL) Tribune, “Desperately seeking ...” by Rob Manker, pg. 2:
‘Star Wars Day’
Was Monday. May the 4th be with you.
     
Twitter
Bill Mullins
@mullins_bill
Replying to @barrypopik @starwars and 6 others
Washington DC Evening Star, 7/1/1977, p B-3; in reference to the Fourth of July.
(A clipping of the article is shown.—ed.)
4:24 PM · May 6, 2022·Twitter Web App
   
(Trademark)
Word Mark MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU
Goods and Services (CANCELLED) IC 014. US 028. G & S: Pins. FIRST USE: 19830630. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19830630
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 73450708
Filing Date October 31, 1983
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition October 16, 1984
Registration Number 1311020
Registration Date December 25, 1984
Owner (REGISTRANT) Lucasfilm Ltd. CORPORATION CALIFORNIA 3270 Kerner Blvd. San Rafael CALIFORNIA 94901
Attorney of Record Roberta Cairney
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Cancellation Date March 27, 1991
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU
Goods and Services (ABANDONED) IC 025. US 039. G & S: clothing; namely, headwear, shirts, pants, shorts, tops, bottoms, footwear, jackets, and underwear
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 74415413
Filing Date July 22, 1993
Current Basis 1B
Original Filing Basis 1B
Published for Opposition March 22, 1994
Owner (APPLICANT) Fabrications Ltd CORPORATION ILLINOIS 538 Chestnut St. Winnetka ILLINOIS 60093
Attorney of Record Robert J. Schneider
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Abandonment Date October 31, 1995
   
(Trademark)
Word Mark MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU
Goods and Services IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Fan club services; entertainment services, namely, live performances by personalities portraying fictional characters; entertainment services, namely, providing educational speakers to discuss fictional characters and entertainment. FIRST USE: 20130504. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20130504
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 85312768
Filing Date May 4, 2011
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1B
Published for Opposition December 20, 2011
Registration Number 4605773
Registration Date September 16, 2014
Owner (REGISTRANT) LUCASFILM LTD. LLC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY CALIFORNIA ONE LETTERMAN DRIVE BLDG. B SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA 94129
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Attorney of Record Barbara Quinn
Description of Mark Color is not claimed as a feature of the mark.
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU
Goods and Services IC 016. US 002 005 022 023 029 037 038 050. G & S: Address books; almanacs; appointment books; art prints; arts and craft paint kits; autograph books; baby books; baseball cards; binders; bookends; bookmarks; a series of fiction books; books, magazines, newsletters and periodicals, featuring stories, games and activities for children; bumper stickers; calendars; cartoon strips; Christmas cards; chalk; children’s activity books; coasters made of paper; coin albums; coloring books; printed children’s coloring pages; comic books; comic strips; coupon books; decals; decorative paper centerpieces; diaries; drawing rulers; dry erase writing boards and writing surfaces; envelopes; erasers; flash cards; gift cards; gift wrapping paper; globes; greeting cards; guest books; general feature magazines; maps; memo pads; modeling clay; newsletters and printed periodicals, featuring stories, games and activities for children; newspapers; note paper; notebooks; notebook paper; paintings; paper flags; paper cake decorations; paper party decorations; paper napkins; paper party bags; paperweights; paper gift wrap bows; paper pennants; paper place mats; pen or pencil holders; pencil sharpeners; pen and pencil cases and boxes; photograph albums; photographs; photo-engravings; pictorial prints; picture books; plastic party bags; plastic shopping bags; portraits; postcards; posters; printed awards; printed certificates; printed invitations; printed menus; recipe books; rubber stamps; score cards; stamp albums; stationery; staplers; stickers; trading cards; ungraduated rulers; writing paper; writing implements
Standard Characters Claimed
Mark Drawing Code (4) STANDARD CHARACTER MARK
Serial Number 86342025
Filing Date July 18, 2014
Current Basis 1B
Original Filing Basis 1B
Published for Opposition March 10, 2015
Owner (APPLICANT) Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY CALIFORNIA One Letterman Drive, Bldg. B San Francisco CALIFORNIA 94129
Attorney of Record Barbara Quinn
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE