Trademarks are word, phrase, or symbol, which represent a company or product. They distinguish the products or services of one company or organization from those its competitors may provide. … Some other examples of trademarks include acronyms (like NBC, IBM) and extend to slogans, stylized fonts, and even colors.

In general, you must use a trademark in your business in order to have trademark rights. But the USPTO offers a way for businesses to preserve their right to use a trademark in the future. … You will need to begin using your trademark and submit additional paperwork to complete the federal registration process.