Which company owns a trademark for the sound of a lion's roar at the start of its films?

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer owns the trademark for the lion’s roar heard at the start of its films.

The roar belongs to MGM’s famous Leo the Lion logo, which places a lion inside a filmstrip bearing the Latin motto “Ars Gratia Artis,” meaning “Art for art’s sake.” The lion emblem was created for Goldwyn Pictures in 1916 and adopted by MGM after its formation in 1924. MGM’s early silent logo used no roar; synchronized sound was added in August 1928.

The familiar opening is not always the sound of one lion. MGM used several lions over the decades, including Slats, Jackie, Tanner, George, and Leo. Modern versions have also remixed or digitally enhanced the sound. The 1982 version, for example, was recreated using additional animal sounds because sound designer Mark Mangini wanted a more powerful effect.

A common mix-up is confusing a trademarked sound with a film studio’s visual logo. MGM protects both brand elements, but the question specifically refers to the audio mark: the roar itself, not merely the image of Leo. Other studios have trademarked or used distinctive fanfares and sound logos, but MGM’s lion roar is the classic example.