Final answer:
A trademark is an identifying symbol or name that merchants or manufacturers use to designate and differentiate their products. It can be a word, symbol, or device that is legally registered or established by use.
Step-by-step explanation:
A trademark is an identifying symbol or name that merchants or manufacturers use to designate and differentiate their products. It can be a word, symbol, or device that is legally registered or established by use.
For example, Chiquita bananas, Chevrolet cars, and the Nike 'swoosh' are all trademarks that represent specific goods. Roughly 1.9 million trademarks are registered with the U.S. government, and companies can renew their trademarks as long as they remain in active use.
Trademarks are different from patents and copyrights, as they primarily focus on distinguishing and identifying products, while patents protect new and original designs, and copyrights protect original artistic or literary works.