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What is the difference between a trademark and a service mark?

Senior Trademark Attorney

A trademark (™) and a service mark (℠) are both used to indicate unregistered trademark claims. The only distinction is that a service mark applies specifically to services rather than physical goods. The ℠ symbol is more commonly used in the US; in most other countries, the ™ symbol covers both goods and services.

Neither symbol is governed by legal guidelines; both can be used freely, typically to signal that registration is in progress. Once registration is complete, the ™ or ℠ symbol is replaced by the ® symbol.

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