Legal Definitions - Trademark Act of 1946

The Trademark Act of 1946, also known as the Lanham Act, is a federal law that provides a national system for registering trademarks and protecting the owners of federally registered marks against the use of similar marks that may cause confusion or dilute the strength of a strong mark. This law is independent of and concurrent with state common law.

For example, if a company registers a trademark for their brand name, no other company can use a similar name or logo that may cause confusion among consumers. This protects the original company's brand identity and reputation.

Another example is if a well-known brand, such as Nike, has a strong trademark, no other company can use a similar mark that may dilute the strength of Nike's brand.

Overall, the Trademark Act of 1946 helps businesses protect their brand identity and reputation by providing a national system for registering trademarks and enforcing trademark rights.