A trademark is a distinctive word, phrase, graphic symbol or a device that is used to distinguish a manufacturer’s product from the products of others.
A trademark can be more than just a brand name or a logo. It may include non-functional aspects of a service or a product that tends to promote and distinguish it in the marketplace, such as shapes, letters, numbers, smells, colours and sounds.
A trademark can either be non-registered ™ or registered ® .
A trademark can only be registered if distinctive.
A trademark has to be used. If the trademark has not been used for a period of five years, the registration may be removed from the trademark register.