trademark
Sign in to saveA trademark (also written trade mark or trade-mark) is a type of intellectual property that consists of a word, phrase, symbol, design, or combination thereof that identifies a product or service from a particular source and distinguishes it from others. Trademarks also extend to non-traditional marks like drawings, symbols, 3D shapes like product designs or packaging, sounds, scents, or specific colors used to create a unique identity. For example, Pepsi is a registered trademark associated with soft drinks, and the distinctive shape of the Coca-Cola bottle is a registered trademark protectin
AI overview
A trademark is a distinctive name, symbol, design, or other identifier that a company uses to distinguish its products or services from competitors—like the Pepsi name or the unique shape of a Coca-Cola bottle. Trademarks matter because they protect a company's exclusive right to use that identifier and help customers recognize and trust the brands they're buying from.
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Article
38 sectionsContents
- Terminology
- Trademarks
- Trademark symbols
- Brand vs. trademark
- Fundamental concepts
- Public policy
- Comparison with patent and copyright
- History
- Early origins
- National trademarks
- Oldest registered trademarks
- Establishing rights
- First-to-file and first-to-use
- Distinctiveness
- Acceptable trademarks
- Unacceptable trademarks
- Clearance search
- National registration
- Madrid System
- Maintaining registration
- Enforcing rights
- Trademark infringement
- Limits and defences to claims of infringement
- Wrongful or groundless threats of infringement
- Other aspects
- Sale, transfer and licensing
- Licensing
- Domain names
- International law
- Territorial application
- Madrid system
- Trademark Law Treaty of 1994, and the Singapore Trademark Law Treaty of 2006
- EU Trademark system
- Well-known status
- Protection of well-known marks
- See also
- References
- External links
A trademark (also written trade mark or trade-mark) is a type of intellectual property that consists of a word, phrase, symbol, design, or combination thereof that identifies a product or service from a particular source and distinguishes it from others. Trademarks also extend to non-traditional marks like drawings, symbols, 3D shapes like product designs or packaging, sounds, scents, or specific colors used to create a unique identity. For example, Pepsi is a registered trademark associated with soft drinks, and the distinctive shape of the Coca-Cola bottle is a registered trademark protecting Coca-Cola's packaging design.
The primary function of a trademark is to identify the source of goods or services and prevent consumers from confusing them with those from other sources. Legal protection for trademarks is typically secured through registration with governmental agencies, such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) or the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). Registration provides the owner certain exclusive rights and provides legal remedies against unauthorised use by others.