Design A Trademark: 

A trademark is any word, phrase, symbol, design, or combination used to identify the source of goods or services and distinguish it from other sources. They are an essential part of any successful business, because they help people know who makes or sells a product or service.  

The DESIGN A TRADEMARK activity will walk you through a process to design a trademark for the product you created. 

Trademarks are how you build a brand that potential customers can immediately recognize and trust. The most common trademarks are the names of a good, product, or service, but they can also be logos, slogans, jingles – even certain smells can be a trademark!  

Branding your creation might seem less important than creating, manufacturing, or delivering it to a customer, but a strong brand can have huge benefits. Put yourself in a customer’s shoes: If someone is choosing between two very similar products sold by different companies, a thoughtfully designed brand can push their decision toward one product or the other.  

If they meet certain criteria, trademarks can be registered with the USPTO to provide extra legal protection. These marks can use the “circle R” symbol: ®. Unregistered trademarks can use the “TM” symbol: ™. 

Learn how to protect your trademark through the federal registration process on our Trademark basics page. 

If you need help searching for any Trademarks or more, check out a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) near you.

For more information about trademarks, see Design A Trademark video.