Final answer:
The trademark equivalent to novelty in patents is distinctiveness, which allows a trademark to be legally protected and recognized by consumers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The trademark world’s corollary to novelty in patents is distinctiveness. Distinctiveness allows a trademark to be recognized by consumers and to be legally protected. A trademark, which could be a word, name, symbol, or device, represents the identity of a product or company and helps consumers distinguish it from other products in the market.
For a trademark to maintain its protection, it must be continuously used in commerce. This requirement aligns closely with the protection offered to patented inventions, which are also subject to legal criteria, ensuring they are new, non-obvious, and useful. Consider the Nike "swoosh", which is a distinctive symbol that identifies Nike’s goods and distinguishes them from other athletic gear.