Trademark

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Trademark

A Trademark is a type of intellectual property consisting of a recognizable sign, design, or expression which identifies products or services of a particular source from those of others. The trademark owner can be an individual, business organization, or any legal entity. Trademark law primarily aims to prevent unfair competition by applying a series of rights and remedies to protect trademark owners.

History[edit | edit source]

The first legislative act concerning trademarks was passed in 1266 under the reign of Henry III, granting the bakers of Warwick the right to use a distinctive mark on the bread they sold. The first modern trademark laws emerged in the late 19th century.

Types of trademarks[edit | edit source]

Trademarks may be of several types including 'trademark', 'service mark', 'collective mark', 'certification mark', 'trade name' and 'well-known mark'.

Trademark law[edit | edit source]

The law considers a trademark to be a form of property. Proprietary rights in relation to a trademark may be established through actual use in the marketplace, or through registration of the mark with the trademarks office (or 'trademarks registry') of a particular jurisdiction.

Trademark infringement[edit | edit source]

Trademark infringement is a violation of the exclusive rights attached to a trademark without the authorization of the trademark owner or any licensees.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


External links[edit | edit source]

Trademark Resources

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD