What is a trademark?
A definition of a trademark
A trademark is defined as a name, symbol, or other device identifying a product or service officially registered and legally restricted to the use of the owner or supplier.
A registered trademark is a trademark that is legally registered by the country or state, which has obtained an application to register a trademark from the owner of the trademark.
You can register a trademark for names, logos, signs or brands. But, to be eligible to be registered, the trademarks must meet certain legal conditions. For example, the trademarks should be distinctive. They should not be exclusively descriptive.
When you register a trademark, you obtain exclusive rights to the use of the trademark. The exclusive rights establish your title or ownership to the trademark, under the law. You can use the registered trademark to prevent copying or counterfeiting.
When you obtain a registered trademark, you hold proof of ownership of the trademark, as at a particular date.
Laws about trademarks
There are separate laws that deal with registered trademarks in most countries. The laws are similar between countries. Further, for the EU, there are EU-wide regulations that harmonize the traemark laws of member states.
The original intent behind trademark law was to encourage trade and businesses that developed intellectual property in their brand names or reputation. Trademark law seeks to give certain rights to trademark owners. Such rights are granted and protected under trademark laws to stop the reputation being damaged, infringed or copied by others.
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