Trademark

Trademark

Noun & Verb · /ˈtreɪdmɑːk/ · a legally registered symbol or name identifying a product; a distinguishing characteristic

Definition

A trademark is a symbol, word, phrase, logo, or combination of these that legally identifies the source of a product or service and distinguishes it from competitors. Registered trademarks are protected by law — the owner has the exclusive right to use them commercially. As a verb, to trademark something means to register it as a trademark. Informally, trademark means any characteristic feature strongly associated with a person or thing: his trademark calm, her trademark red coat.

Origin

Compound of trade and mark — literally the mark of a trade. The concept of marking goods to indicate their maker is ancient, but the modern legal trademark emerged in the nineteenth century. The UK Trade Marks Registration Act of 1875 was one of the first formal registration systems. The symbol ™ indicates an unregistered claim; ® indicates a registered trademark protected by statute.