Trademark

Trade marks are like symbols like logos and brand names which distinguish goods and services in the market place. You can also register your trade mark which will show that it is not allowed to be re-used or modified. To tell if a trade mark has been registered it will have an 'R' symbol next to it. The symbol is small and is in a circle, this will warn people about its registration. However, if you take the symbol and use it, without it actually being properly registered is an offence.

A registered trade mark should put people off using your trade mark without your permission and if they do use it, then it allows you to take legal action against anyone who uses it without your permission. As its your property it means you can sell it or let other people have a licence that allows them to use it.

To protect an unregistered trade mark you have to have evidence of it being yours. You can do this by posting the trade mark to yourself, so that you have the date of it being posted/created. This way you can prove that it is yours.