Trademark

Key Elements of a Trademark:

✅ Distinctiveness – The mark should be unique and recognizable.
✅ Non-functionality – The mark should not describe the product’s function.
✅ Use in commerce – The trademark must be used in business or trade.

Types of Trademarks:

Word Marks – Trademarks consisting of words or letters (e.g., Google, Nike).
Design Marks – Logos or symbols (e.g., Apple logo, McDonald's golden arches).
Combination Marks – A mix of text and design (e.g., Coca-Cola's scripted font and red background).
Sound Marks – Distinctive sounds (e.g., Intel’s startup sound).
Color Marks – Specific color combinations (e.g., Tiffany's blue box).
Shape Marks – Unique product shapes (e.g., the Coca-Cola bottle).

Trademark Protection:

Trademarks are protected under intellectual property laws.
Registered trademarks give the owner exclusive rights to use the mark.
Trademark infringement occurs when another party uses a similar mark in a way that causes confusion.

Trademark Symbols:

™ (Trademark) – Used for unregistered trademarks.
® (Registered Trademark) – Used for trademarks that have been officially registered with the trademark office.
℠ (Service Mark) – Used to distinguish services rather than products.

Examples of Famous Trademarks:

Nike – "Just Do It" slogan and swoosh logo.
McDonald's – Golden arches and "I'm Lovin' It."
Apple – The bitten apple logo.
Coca-Cola – Scripted font and red background.
Google – Multicolored word mark.