What Symbol do you Use if a Trademark is Registered?

Introduction

If you have a trademark, use the registered trademark symbol (R) to indicate that status. You can place it in front of or after the trademark. The symbol looks like this: ®.

The symbol ®

• If the trademark is a registered trademark, use the symbol ®.
• The R in a circle is used to show that the product is protected by a trademark.
• It’s placed on goods and services to indicate they are being sold under that trademark.

The Symbol TM and SM

Trademark and service mark are two different things.

A trademark is a word, symbol, or phrase used to identify the source of goods or services. A service mark is the same as a trademark but identifies the source of a service rather than goods.

A trademark can be registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This means that no one else can use it without your permission. You must apply for registration before using a trademark in commerce; however, you do not actually have to register it before you start using it in commerce.

A service mark can be registered only if you have already used it in commerce, but it does not have to be registered before you start using it in commerce.

Takeaway

The R in a circle is the symbol for a registered trademark. The circle represents the federal government, which protects your property rights by registering marks and creating laws to prevent counterfeiters from using them. You can use this symbol to show that your trademark is protected, or legally registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

You can also use TM or SM after your trademark if you have filed an application for registration but have not yet received approval from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Conclusion

Use the registered trademark symbol ®. If you want to use the word “registered” before or after a trademark, don’t use parentheses around it.