What does ‘TM’ above Companies’ Names mean

Introduction

A trademark is a sign that distinguishes the goods or services of one business from those of another business. The ™ symbol can be used when your business is not yet registered, but cannot be used in company names.

There is no Requirement to Register the Symbol

While the TM symbol is not required to be used before a trademark, it can be used to indicate an intention to assert rights in a trademark. Also known as a “trademark pending” status symbol or trademark notice, its purpose is to inform consumers that your company has applied for registration of its logo or brand name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

The TM designation does not actually apply for the registration of your mark; rather, it indicates an intention to use the specific intellectual property at some point in the future. This means that you’re reserving this name so no one else can take it while you wait for official registration from USPTO.

If the USPTO denies your application because they feel like there are too many similar marks out there already—for example, if someone else had already registered their company under “FluffyDogs” before you—you could lose all legal rights over what’s now considered public domain information.

What does ‘TM’ Indicate?

The term “TM” above a company’s name indicates that the company is claiming rights to use the word or word combination as a trademark. The use of TM on a sign indicates an intention to assert rights in a trademark, but it does not mean that any such rights have been obtained by the user. It does not provide legal protection for your name and does not guarantee that another business cannot use your registered trademark on its own products or services.

Using the Logo without Registration

If you use the logo without registering it first then the most that can be said is that you are claiming some kind of unspecified right in the mark.

The ™ symbol is used to indicate that you have an intention of using the mark in the near future. It can also be used when your business is not yet registered, as it is often a good idea to file for registration before using any trademark or service mark. The ™ symbol cannot be used in company names, since it would make your company name look like a product name rather than a brand name.

Specify the class of Goods and Services your Sign Identifies

When you register a trademark, you have to specify what class of goods or services your sign identifies.

Trademarks can be registered for any class of goods or services. You can register a trademark for any good or service, but you must specify which one when you apply.

‘TM’ Character in Company Names

Do you see the ™ character in company names? Are you wondering what it means?

The trademark symbol (™), is used to indicate that you have trademarked your company name, product name, or logo. The TM symbol can be used when your business is not yet registered but it cannot be used in company names. This means that if you want to use the ™ symbol for your business name, you will need to register your trademark first.

You can also use the ™ symbol in social media posts to indicate that you are using a particular brand or product as part of an advertising campaign and not as a paid endorsement by the brand or product owner.

Takeaway

The ™ symbol can be used when your business is not yet registered, but cannot be used in company names.

When you see a ™ symbol above a company’s name, it means that the business has applied for its trademark. If you don’t see TM, then it can be assumed that the company has not yet registered its trademark.

There are many reasons why businesses opt to trademark their brand name:

• Trademarking a brand is important because it helps protect your company from others using similar words or phrases as part of their own business names, products, and services. If someone were to use your brand name in association with something else (such as an unrelated product), it could lead shoppers away from your product. They may think that what they’re buying is associated with your business or doesn’t come from an authorized source if they see another company using similar language on its marketing materials or website.
• Trademarks make sure consumers know who makes which product by identifying which companies have produced them in order to prevent confusion at retail stores like supermarkets where multiple brands are available under one roof at once.

Conclusion

This article focuses on the importance and the purpose of using the ‘TM’ symbol with companies’ names.