GLOSSARY
Trademark
Any word, name, phrase, logo, slogan, symbol, or other “source” indicator used to distinguish goods from those of others. For example, “Budweiser” for beer made by Anheuser-Busch, Incorporated. Also used generically to refer to trademarks, service marks, and trade dress.
Service mark
Any word, name, phrase, logo, slogan, symbol, or other “source” indicator used to distinguish services from those of others. For example, “Greyhound” for transportation services provided by Greyhound Lines, Incorporated.
® can be used with REGISTERED trademarks or service marks.
TM can be used to show that rights are claimed (or unregistered marks).
SM is like “™” but for service marks.
Other common intellectual property symbols:
© signals copyright protection for a work. Under U.S. law, copyright notice should have three elements: (1) the © symbol, the word “Copyright” or the abbreviation “Copr.”; (2) the year of first publication; and (3) the copyright owner’s name. For example:
© 2007 Miranda Patton.
℗ signals copyright protection for a phonorecord of a sound recording. Under U.S. law, a phonorecord copyright notice should have three elements: (1) the circle “P”; (2) the year of first public distribution (“publication”); and (3) the copyright owner’s name. For example:
℗ 2007 Miranda Patton
Copyright notice is no longer REQUIRED in the U.S. But it remains a good idea, as it gives others notice of the claim of rights. The U.S. Copyright Office publishes guidelines about copyright notice on artistic works. See http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ03/html.
“Patent Pending” or “Patent Applied For” means that an inventor, manufacturer, or seller of an article has filed a patent application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. These notices have no legal effect except to announce that a patent application has been filed.
“Patent No. _______” means that the invention is patented. The number is assigned by the United States Patent and Trademark Office so others can look up and identify the corresponding patent. Failure to mark the invention may prevent the patent owner from recovering damages from an infringer unless the infringer was notified of the patent and continued to infringe after notification.