Service Marks
A service mark is a type of trademark that specifically identifies and protects the brand name or logo associated with a service, rather than a product. Just as trademarks help consumers recognize the source of products, service marks do the same for services. For example, a company offering consulting services may use a unique name or symbol that serves as its service mark. This helps distinguish its services from competitors and gives consumers assurance of quality. Service marks are legally protected, preventing others from using similar identifiers in a way that may cause confusion in the marketplace.
Additional Insights
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A service mark is similar to a trademark but specifically identifies and protects services instead of physical goods. It is a symbol, word, or phrase that distinguishes one service provider from another, helping consumers recognize and choose a particular service. For example, if a business has a unique name or logo for its cleaning services, that can be registered as a service mark. The protection it offers prevents others from using the same or a confusingly similar mark in a way that could mislead customers about the source of the services.