https://completemarkets.com/company/CompleteMarkets/Articles/content-package/IMMS-Library/TabCategory/article-post/1508/BASIC-FACTS-ABOUT-REGISTERING-A-TRADEMARK-PART-1/
... What is a Trademark? A trademark is either a word, phrase, symbol, or design, or combination of words, phrases, symbols or designs, that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods or services of one party from those of others. A service mark is the same as a trademark, except that it identifies and distinguishes the source of a service rather than a product. Throughout this booklet the terms trademark' and mark' are used to refer to both trademarks and service marks, whether they're word marks or other types of marks. Normally, a mark for goods appears on the product or on its packaging, while a service mark appears in advertising for the services. A trademark is different from a copyright or a patent. A copyright protects an original artistic or literary work; a patent protects an invention. For copyright information, call the Library of Congress at (202) 707-3000. Establishing Trademark Rights Trademark rights arise from either (1 ) actual use of the mark, or (2 ) the filing of a proper application to register a mark in the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) stating that the applicant has a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce regulated by the U.S. Congress. (See below, under Types of Applications, ' for a discussion of what is meant by the terms commerce' and use in commerce.) Federal registration is not required to establish rights in a mark, nor is it required to begin use of a mark. However, federal registration can secure benefits beyond the rights acquired by merely using ...