There are a number of techniques for inserting trademark symbols into your documents. Inserting the Trademark Symbols into Documents This helps the symbol stand out without dominating a design. While trademarks should be noticeable, the ® symbol is typically printed in superscript and smaller type than the mark, just as the ™ symbol always is. The first page of each written document should have at least one obvious use of the trademark symbol.īusinesses commonly list the trademark holder and all trademarks used on a website or printed document at the bottom of the site or page. You should always use the trademark symbol, or a placeholder for it, with the first instance of the mark.
#HOW TO TYPE THE REGISTERED TRADEMARK SYMBOL IN VISTAPRINT REGISTRATION#
All footnotes for registered trademarks must refer to the registration as above. You could use bold, italics, uppercase letters, or a different type to show trademarks, then explain them in a footnote. † NIKE and the swoosh logo are trademarks registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office.It may also make it harder to read.Īnother alternative is using *(asterisk) or †(dagger) or ‡(double dagger) symbols near the first use of the trademark, then detailing the trademark in a footnote. This can create unnecessary clutter, though, and may detract from the look of your piece. Some people write trademark symbols after the first or most noticeable mention of the mark, while others prefer to use the symbols after every incident. In documents like company reports or press releases, the trademark symbol is traditionally written directly after the mark without a space. You can further set trademarked text apart by writing it in bold, italics, uppercase letters, or even a different typeface.
Placing your trademark symbol in a prominent and expected place helps people notice it.
It's uncommon and not advisable to place the trademark symbol below, above, or left of your mark. However, most trademark holders place the symbols in one of three positions: There are no rules about the placement of trademark symbols. Trademark symbols can be a great way to promote your intellectual copy's trademark on a variety of materials including: However, they are recognized and understood throughout the world. These symbols show your trademark status within the United States. People with common law service marks can use the symbol ™ in its place, as a service mark is a type of trademark. Many people avoid using the SM symbol because it's not widely understood and the letters SM have undesirable connotations. Like the ™ symbol, SM can be used freely without filing paperwork. It's the common law trademark applied to services, like lawn mowing or manicures, once they are used in commerce. You cannot use it where you have a common law trademark or a trademark pending.Ī less common trademark symbol is SM. You can only use this symbol with a piece of registered intellectual property used in connected with the goods and services noted on your federal registration certificate. This is the trademark applied to goods or services once the common law trademark is registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). While the ™ symbol indicates common law rights, your common law trademark offers less protection than a registered trademark. The ™ symbol was first used in the United States and the United Kingdom, but its use has spread throughout the world. You do not need to file any paperwork or get anyone's approval to use this symbol. Any mark automatically gets a common law trademark once it's used in commerce. This is sometimes called a common law trademark or unregistered trademark. You should use trademark symbols with a range of intellectual property, including your brand name, your product names, your logo, and your slogan. They distinguish a company's goods and services. These symbols promote a piece of intellectual property and its trademark status.
There are two main trademark symbols: ™ (HTML: &#8482 or &trade or Unicode: U+2122) and ® (HTML: &reg or Unicode: U+000AE) and a third less common: ℠ (HTML: &#8480 or Unicode: U+02120). Frequently Asked Questions What Is a Trademark Symbol?
Inserting the Trademark Symbols into Documents 4.