I ntellectual property refers to any product of human intellect which has market value. Examples of such properties include inventions, ideas or expressions, business methods, industrial processes, and chemical formulas. I n order to consider an intellectual property as a valid business asset, it should be protected through legal means such as patents, trademarks, service marks or copyrights, as provided through intellectual property laws. Trademark A trademark is any word or symbol which is consistently attached to goods to identify and distinguish them from others in the marketplace. In other words, a trademark is a brand name.
Trademarks are a means of identification for a product of a particular individual or company.
The mark can be a symbol, word, design, slogan, or a combination of words and designs. Sometimes trademarks are confused with trade names. Trade names refer to the name of the company which sells the product or service, and trademarks are the name of the product or service that a particular company is selling. Trademarks are protected under federal trademark laws, and trade names are protected under state laws where the company resides. Customers often purchase a product because they associate a certain quality or reputation to the trademark.