Trademark

A trademark is a legal designation that protects a brand name, logo, or slogan from unauthorised use by others. Once registered, a trademark gives the holder the exclusive right to use that mark in commerce in the relevant territory and category. Trademarks are signified by the ® symbol (for registered trademarks) or the ™ symbol (for marks where registration has been applied for or claimed without registration). Registering a logo as a trademark provides important legal protection, but it requires that the mark be sufficiently distinctive to be registrable and that it does not conflict with existing registered marks. Logo designers are typically not trademark attorneys and should not advise clients definitively on trademark matters, but they should be aware of the importance of trademark clearance — searching existing registered marks before finalising a logo design to reduce the risk of infringement — and should recommend that clients seek legal advice on trademark registration.