Legal Definitions - house trademark

A house trademark is a type of trademark used by a manufacturer or seller to distinguish its products from those of others. The main purpose of a trademark is to designate the source of goods or services. To receive federal protection, a trademark must be distinctive, affixed to a product that is actually sold in the marketplace, and registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

For example, the Nike "swoosh" logo is a house trademark that distinguishes Nike's products from those of other athletic apparel companies.

Trademark law also deals with how businesses distinctively identify their products. The body of law dealing with this is called the Lanham Act. A trademark can function on three different levels: as an indication of origin or ownership, as a guarantee of constancy of the quality or other characteristics of a product or service, and as a medium of advertisement.

Overall, a house trademark is an important tool for businesses to protect their brand and distinguish their products from those of competitors.