Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A distinguishing mark or device adopted by a manufacturer and impressed on his goods, labels, etc., to indicate the origin or manufacturer; in law, aparticular mark or symbol which is used by a person for the purpose of denoting that the article to which or to packages of which it is affixed is sold or manufactured by him or by his authority, or used as a name or sign for his place of business to indicate that he carries on his business at that particular place, and which by priority of adoption and more or less exclusive use, or by government sanction and registration, is recognized and protectable as his property. In Great Britain, the United States, and other countries the registration and protection of trademarks are provided for by statute. The earliest trade-marks appear to have been those which were used in the manufacture of paper, and which are known as water-marks. Of these the most ancient known appears on a document bearing the date 1351—that is, shortly after the invention of the art of making paper from linen rags. The foundation of the protection afforded by the law to the owners of trade-marks is in the injustice done to one whose trade has acquired favor with the public if competitors are allowed, by colorable imitation of methods first adopted and continuously used by him for making his products recognizable, to induce intending purchasers to take their goods instead of his. The same kind of protection is therefore given, within just limits, to style and color of package and label as to specific symbols.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A peculiar distinguishing mark or device affixed by a manufacturer or a merchant to his goods, the exclusive right of using which is recognized by law.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb register the trademark of
  • noun a distinctive characteristic or attribute
  • noun a formally registered symbol identifying the manufacturer or distributor of a product
  • verb mark with a brand or trademark

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