TRADE MARK REGISTRATION

Intellectual property rights allow companies to claim ownership of brands, designs, and assets. These ownership rights mean that company brands and designs are legally protected against unauthorized use or implementation by third parties. One type of intellectual property right is a trademark.
The definition of a trademark is any identifiable symbol, phrase, color, design, sound, or insignia representing and legally differentiating a product from other products. Enterprises register trademarks to differentiate their products, services, and brands from competitors. The primary function is to recognize and protect a firm's ownership of the brand. Moreover, trademarks legally identify a product as the property of the associated company.
Understanding the Trademark Symbol
According to the trademark definition provided in this lesson, the trademark symbols legally identify the owner, origin, or creator of a design, item, or service. These trademark (TM) or registered trademark (R) symbols or logos are affixed to brand names, slogans, pictures, logos, or bands. A trademark also identifies service marks used to designate the source of services. Trademark law prevents any other organization or individual from using the products, services, or designs without authorization from the registered owner. Registering a trademark also prevents confusion between existing products and brands. Entities are not allowed to use symbols, audio files, colors, or names similar to a registered trademark. This legal safeguard is especially valuable for related or identical products.