Trademark symbols, can I use them? How do I use them? You often see major brands tacking on a ™ or ® to their logos, is this necessary or should you be using it with your logo? Well, let's take a look at what each symbol means.
"If you claim rights to use a mark, you may use the "TM" (trademark) or "SM" (service mark) designation to alert the public to your claim of ownership of the mark, regardless of whether you have filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). However, you may only use the federal registration symbol "®" after the USPTO actually registers a mark, and not while an application is pending."
So basically, if you feel the need to claim your mark (your logo), but don't want to file the necessary paperwork or your application is still pending, go ahead and use the "TM" (trademark) symbol to alert the rest of the world that this mark is yours. If you have filed the paperwork and your application has been approved, you can switch over to the use of the "®" (registered trademark). Below are some examples of how famous brands have chosen to use the trademark symbols.
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| Starbucks (Trademark) |
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| Google (Trademark) |
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| McDonald's (Registered Trademark) |
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| Adidas (Registered Trademark) |
