As a way of claiming ownership of a term or design to represent its products and services, a company uses a trademark or combination of characters and numerals. Trademarks can be registered in a variety of ways, such as product marks, service marks, collective marks, certification marks, shape marks, sounds marks and patterns. Although Trademark Registration come in many forms, their purpose remains the same – which is to enable consumers to identify goods and services originating from certain manufacturers or service providers.
Mark of the product
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In contrast to a service mark, a product mark is used to identify the origin of the product and to maintain a business’s reputation. It is a mark used on a good or a product rather than on a service. As they represent goods, trademark applications under trademark class 1-34 are considered product marks.
Mark of service
While service marks are similar to product marks, they are used to identify services rather than products. In trademark class 35-45, applications that represent services could be categorized as service marks, as they represent services rather than products. The main purpose of a service mark is to distinguish its proprietors from competitors.
Mark of the Collective
It informs the public of the distinctive characteristics of a product or service which represents a collective. An association, a public institution, or a Section 8 company can use this mark to collectively protect a product or service. A section 8 company or an association can also hold this mark.
When a collective mark is issued, the standards of the products are normally set by the regulator granting the mark. The Chartered Accountant designation is a common collective mark in India, and others associated with it are held responsible for adhering to certain standards while using it.
Mark of certification
The certification mark indicates a product’s origin, material, quality, or other specifics and is issued by the proprietor. Its primary purpose is to ensure that a product meets the standard and guarantees its quality to the customer. By showing that a product has been subjected to standard tests to ensure quality, a certification mark can also help raise the product’s standard amongst customers. Usually, certification marks can be found on packaged foods, toys, and electronics.
Marking the shape
In order for customers to find the product relatable to a certain manufacturer and to purchase it, Shape Marks are exclusively used to protect the product’s shape. Once a product is recognized as having a noteworthy shape, it can be registered. A Coca-Cola bottle or Fanta bottle are recognizable with their brand because of their distinctive shape.
Marking patterns
As a result of their specific design patterns, pattern marks are used to distinguish products. Generally, pattern marks that do not stand out as remarkable marks are rejected since they do not serve any purpose. In order to register a pattern, it must prove that it is unique.
Mark of sound
A sound mark is a sound that is associated with a specific supplier’s products or services. An audio mark is registered when people are able to identify the service or product or show it represents when they hear the sound. In India, the most popular sound mark is the tune for the Indian Premier League, which is called an audio mnemonic, and appears at the beginning or end of a commercial.
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