We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Finance

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Service Mark?

Mary Elizabeth
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 10,103
References
Share

A trademark is a fairly familiar concept and symbol signaling a recognizable branding of a company’s goods, i.e., its “trade.” Unregistered, a trademark is designated as ™. Registered, it appears as ®. A service mark is a parallel usage to a trademark, but is used for services, rather than goods. In many of its explanations and definitions, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) actually uses the word trademark to refer to both trademarks and service marks.

The official definition of a service mark from the USPTO is “any word, name, symbol, device, or any combination, used, or intended to be used, in commerce, to identify and distinguish the services of one provider from services provided by others, and to indicate the source of the services.” Although registration of a service mark is not required, it provides several important benefits, including evidence of ownership, legal presumption of ownership, and the ability to use the filing as a basis for filing for foreign registration. An unregistered service mark is indicated by the abbreviation SM. The registered symbol ® is the same as for trademarks.

There are several steps in acquiring a service mark registration. The first is to determine that a service mark is the type of intellectual property that is appropriate to create and create a prototype mark. At the same time, it is necessary to search the USPTO database of trademarks and service marks to be aware of existing rights to various marks that may bear a resemblance to the proposed service mark. The “Design Search Code Manual” categorizes mark designs and assists in the search for them, and the search can be conducted at the Trademark Public Search Library in Alexandria, Virginia. If a possibly conflicting mark is discovered, the Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval (TARR) database can be used to find out the mark’s current status.

Once the design has been cleared as not conflicting, the application must be completed. This includes a description of the service that the service mark is intended to represent. It also includes a clear depiction of the service mark to be registered. There is a fee involved in the registration process, which can take several years. Often, the services of an attorney are procured for service mark registration.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Mary Elizabeth
By Mary Elizabeth
Passionate about reading, writing, and research, Mary Elizabeth is dedicated to correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to writing articles on art, literature, and music for WiseGeek, Mary works as a teacher, composer, and author who has written books, study guides, and teaching materials. Mary has also created music composition content for Sibelius Software. She earned her B.A. from University of Chicago's writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Passionate about reading, writing, and research, Mary Elizabeth is dedicated to correcting misinformation on the...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-service-mark.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.