About the PTRC program - Trademark
The Patent and Trademark Resource Center Program manages a nationwide network of academic, public, and state libraries that have been designated a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC). These resource centers provide the public with various trademark and patent assistance.
A primary purpose of the program is to assist and advise creators in researching existing trademarks; additionally, the PTRC representative at JMU Libraries can connect users to resources regarding trademark registration.
This expertise is also readily available to JMU students who may be researching trademarks for assignments or other class activities.
Trademark basics
A trademark is generally a word, phrase, symbol, or design, or combination thereof, that identifies and distinguishes a source of goods of one party from those of others.
A service mark is similar a trademark, except it identifies and distinguishes the source of a service rather than goods.
The terms "trademark" and "mark" refer to both trademarks and service marks.
A trademark usually protects the brand names and logos used on goods and services.
Trademark is not the same as copyright or patent. Copyright protects an original artistic or literary work. A patent protects an invention.
For more information about trademarks, please see the USPTO's "What is a trademark?" and the Trademark Basics Registration Toolkit.
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Trademark Basics Basic trademark information from USPTO website.
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Legal Trademark Definition Legal definition and basic information about trademarks from Cornell's Legal Information Institute Wex.
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Trademark, patent, or copyright? A rubric to help explain the differences between the three types of IP.
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IP Identifier A tool by the USPTO to help identify your IP.