The trademark symbols ™, ℠ and ®: what do they mean?

Trademarks enable a company’s products or services to be identified and distinguished from those of its competitors. Various symbols can be used to indicate their legal status:

™ (Trademark)

This symbol is used to indicate that a sign (name, logo, slogan) is claimed as a trademark, even if it has not yet been officially registered. It does not confer full protection, but indicates an intention to claim ownership.

℠ (Service mark)

Similar to the ™ symbol, it is reserved for services rather than products. In practice, many countries simply use ™ for both.

® (Registered / Registered trademark)

This symbol indicates that a trademark is officially registered with a competent authority. It confers enhanced legal protection and exclusive rights within the relevant territory. Its use without registration is prohibited and may result in penalties.

Registered vs unregistered trademarks

An unregistered trademark may enjoy limited protection, often linked to its local use. In contrast, registration offers stronger and broader rights, making it easier to defend against infringements.

Why are these symbols important?

They are not merely informative:

• they indicate the level of legal protection,

• they deter misuse,

• and their incorrect use may lead to legal risks (misleading consumers in the event of misuse of the ® symbol, penalties in certain countries, weakening of your rights in the event of a dispute, claims of unfair competition or free-riding, and damage to the company’s image and credibility).

In practice, therefore, the ™ symbol is often used at the start of a project, whilst ® is only applied after official registration.

👉 If you are considering protecting your trademark, the MARS-IP team will support you every step of the way, from filing to international protection strategy.

Contact us

Image: ChatGPT