Legal Definitions - TM

TM

TM is an abbreviation for "trademark". It is usually written as a superscript after a mark (TM) to indicate that someone claims ownership of the mark. However, it does not necessarily mean that the mark is registered.

Apple Inc. claims ownership of the trademark "iPhone TM" for their smartphone product. This means that they have exclusive rights to use the name and prevent others from using it for similar products.

Another example is the trademark "Coca-Cola TM" for the popular soft drink. The TM symbol indicates that the name is owned by the Coca-Cola Company and cannot be used by other companies without permission.

The examples illustrate how the TM symbol is used to indicate ownership of a trademark. It is important for companies to protect their trademarks to prevent others from using their brand names or logos for similar products. The TM symbol is a way to signal to others that the mark is claimed, even if it is not registered with the government.