Which symbol indicates an unregistered trademark?

Which symbol indicates an unregistered trademark?

• A. R in a circle
• B. Trademark symbol
• C. C in a circle
• D. TM

Answer: (D)

When marking brand names or logos, the symbol you see tells you the legal status of that mark. An unregistered trademark is shown with TM. It signals that the owner claims rights to the mark in commerce, but it may not be officially registered yet, so the protection isn’t as strong as a registered mark. The circled R indicates a registered trademark, which means formal registration has been completed. The copyright symbol signals protection for original works, not branding marks. So the symbol that best communicates an unregistered trademark is TM.

When marking brand names or logos, the symbol you see tells you the legal status of that mark. An unregistered trademark is shown with TM. It signals that the owner claims rights to the mark in commerce, but it may not be officially registered yet, so the protection isn’t as strong as a registered mark. The circled R indicates a registered trademark, which means formal registration has been completed. The copyright symbol signals protection for original works, not branding marks. So the symbol that best communicates an unregistered trademark is TM.