Legal Definitions - collective mark

A collective mark is a type of trademark used exclusively by members of an association, cooperative, or other collective organization. This mark can be made up of words, names, designs, symbols, or a combination of these elements. It requires an application for registration under the Lanham Act or trademark law.

There are two types of collective marks:

• Collective Trademarks or Collective Service Marks: These marks are used by members of a collective organization to identify their goods and services and distinguish them from those of non-members. The collective itself does not offer goods or services under the mark, but may advertise goods and services bearing its mark.
• Collective Membership Marks: These marks indicate membership in a collective group. They are not used to identify the source or origin of goods or services, but rather to indicate that the person displaying the mark is a member of an organized collective group.

One example of a collective mark is the AAA® mark, which indicates membership in the American Automobile Association. Another example is the Fair Trade Certified™ mark, which is used by members of the Fair Trade USA organization to indicate that their products meet certain ethical and environmental standards.

These examples illustrate how collective marks are used to identify membership in a particular organization or to distinguish the goods and services of members from those of non-members.