As a noun, it is a special name, symbol, or design that legally identifies a company or product. As a verb, it means to officially register such a sign so others cannot use it.
It combines 'trade' (commerce) and 'mark' (a sign or symbol). The legal sense developed in the 19th century as industrial products and branding became widespread.
Trademarks show how powerful a simple symbol can be—just a swoosh, a bitten apple, or a few letters can be worth billions. They’re legal proof that in modern economies, attention and recognition are products too.
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