Tacos, Tattoos & Trademarks

What is a trademark?

• A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, design, or combination of these things that identifies a company's goods or services. Trademarks help customers recognize a company and distinguish it from its competitors. They can also protect a company's brand, prevent counterfeiting and fraud, and provide legal protection.Once registered, that same symbol or series of words cannot be used by any other organization, forever, as long as it remains in use and proper paperwork and fees are paid. 

An example of a trademark would be:

• McDonald’s golden arches design. “I’m loving it” catch phrase slogan

• Nike's swoosh symbol and Coke's "Coca-Cola" written in its distinctive script.

• The word “Barbie”