Here an interesting article from the New York Times on the history of the soy sauce dispenser.
Kenji Ekuan designed this well known dispenser over 50 years ago:
Design protection (if there was any) for the soy sauce dispenser would have expired in the early 1970’s.
Interestingly, Kikkoman Corporation have recently filed for a shape trademark in Australia, which if granted, would protect the shape of the dispenser indefinitely!
