A type of intellectual property used to identify a product or service and give its owner the sole right of use, with protection against infringement or use by others. In Us law a trademark designated ™ is instruction that the product’s name and design are the exclusive property of a company. However a registered trademark ® provides instruction that the trademark has been registered. Only a legally registered trademark can be represented by the ® symbol, and even then it must be renewed after a number of years to continue enjoying the legal protection a registered trademark provides.

A trademark may be designated by the following symbols:

™ (for an unregistered trade mark, that is, a mark used to promote or brand goods)

℠ (for an unregistered service mark, that is, a mark used to promote or brand services)

® (for a registered trademark)

See also:
Trademark