What distinguishes one category of mark from another one?

Marks are broken up into four distinct categories: trademarks, service marks, certification marks, and collective marks.
Trademarks – any word, name, symbol, device, or combination of the former used to distinguish the commercial purpose and source of a manufacturer’s goods from other goods
Service mark – any word, name, symbol, device, or combination of the former used to distinguish the commercial purpose and source of a provider’s services from other services
Certification mark – any word, name, symbol, device, or combination of the former lent with the owner’s permission to someone other than the owner to certify the authenticity of their commercial good’s or service’s characteristics, such as: geographic origin, material, mode of manufacture, quality, and accuracy
Collective mark – a trademark or service mark used by a collective group or organization, such as associations, cooperatives, and unions, which indicates an individual’s membership in that particular group

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The content of this article is not intended to be, and does not constitute, legal advice and does not create attorney-client privilege. Consult the attorney of your choice before embarking on any legal matter or any document preparation/filing.

Dr. Thomas R. (Terry) Williamson III is a Patent Attorney practicing in Atlanta, Georgia.

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