Trademark registration Vs. Patent Registration- Which one suits you?
In today’s knowledge-driven economy, ideas are often the backbone of successful businesses. But once these ideas are turned into tangible creations, they become valuable assets that need to be protected. This is where intellectual property comes in. Intellectual property is a broad term that encompasses a variety of legal concepts, such as trademarks, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets, that are designed to safeguard the rights of creators and innovators. However, distinguishing between these concepts can be challenging, especially for entrepreneurs who are just starting out.
In this blog post, we’ll focus on two essential types of intellectual property protection – trademarks and patents – and explore their key differences and benefits. By the end of this post, you should have a better understanding of which type of protection is best suited for your needs, depending on the nature of your idea or creation.
Table of content
- What is a trademark?
- What is a patent?
- Key differences between trademark and patent
- Advantages of obtaining a trademark
- Advantages of obtaining a patent
- Which one you should choose?
- Conclusion
What is a Trademark?
A trademark is a symbol, word, phrase, design, or combination of these elements that is used to identify and distinguish the goods or services of one company from those of another. Essentially, a trademark is a brand name that helps consumers identify the source or origin of a product or service.
Trademarks play a crucial role in protecting a company’s brand and reputation and ensuring that consumers can easily recognize and trust the products or services associated with the mark. By registering a trademark with the government, a business can obtain exclusive rights to use the mark in connection with its goods or services, and prevent others from using a similar mark in a way that could cause confusion or dilute the brand’s value.
Overall, trademarks are a powerful tool for businesses to establish and maintain their identity in the marketplace, and to protect their valuable intellectual property.
Types of Trademarks
There are 7 types of trademark:-
1. Product Mark: Identifies a specific product or range of products (logo, brand name, slogan)
2.Services Mark: Identifies a specific service or range of services (hotel/restaurant name, slogan, logo)
3.Collective Mark: Identifies products/services of an organization or group (eg. used by professional associations, unions, trade organizations)
4. Certification Mark: Indicates a product/service meets quality standards (eg. UL mark for electronics, ISO mark for quality management)
5. Shape Mark: Identifies a product/service based on its unique shape (eg. Coca-Cola bottle, Toblerone chocolate bar)
6. Pattern Mark: Identifies a product/service based on a particular pattern or design (eg. Burberry check, Louis Vuitton monogram)
7.Sound Mark: Identifies a product/service based on a specific sound or musical jingle (eg. NBC chimes, Intel jingle)
What is a Patent?
A patent is a legal right granted by the government to an inventor, giving them exclusive rights to make, use, and sell an invention for a certain period of time, usually 20 years from the filing date of the patent application. Patents are granted for new, useful, and non-obvious inventions, which can include processes, machines, articles of manufacture, and compositions of matter.
Patents provide a strong incentive for innovation and encourage inventors to disclose their inventions to the public, in exchange for the exclusive rights to exploit them. Patents can be a valuable asset for businesses, as they allow them to protect their innovative ideas and prevent others from using, making, or selling their inventions without permission. This can give businesses a competitive advantage in the marketplace, as well as provide opportunities for licensing or selling the patent to generate revenue.
Types of Patents
There are three types of Patents:
1. Utility Patent: Utility patents protect new and useful processes, machines, compositions of matter, and improvements, for up to 20 years.
2. Design Patent: Design patents protect the ornamental design of an article of manufacture, for up to 15 years.
3. Plant Patent: Plant patents protect new and distinct varieties of asexually reproduced plants, for up to 20 years.
Key Differences between trademark and Patent
| Basis of Difference | Trademark | Patent |
| 1. Meaning | A trademark is a unique symbol or design that identifies a company’s products or services and legally protects them from imitation or confusion in the market. | A patent is a legal protection granted to inventors, giving them exclusive rights to prevent others from making, using, or selling their invention. |
| 2. Registration | Trademark registration is optional | Patent registration is mandatory |
| 3. Term of registration | 10 years | 20 years |
| 4. Renewable/Non-Renewable | Can be renewed after 10 years | Cannot be renewed |
| 5. Rights Granted | It gives the owner of trademark exclusive rights to Use the trademark and to prevent others from using the same | It gives the owner the right to stop others from producing, selling, or importing your patented invention. |
Advantages of obtaining a Trademark
Trademark being a vital intellectual property for every business provides plenty of benefits to its holder. It not only acts as an intangible asset for a business but also contributes to the goodwill of a business.
The following are key advantages of obtaining a trademark:
- Exclusive rights to use the mark and prevent confusion.
- Builds brand recognition and loyalty.
- Provides a competitive edge in the marketplace.
- Offers legal protection against infringement and brand reputation damage.
- Adds value to your business as an asset that can be licensed, sold, or used as collateral.
- Provides international protection for your brand in different markets.
Advantages of obtaining a Patent
Patent provide several advantages to an inventor or a company, including
1. Exclusive rights: Patents provide exclusive rights to make, use, and sell inventions for a period of time.
2. Legal protection: Patents protect inventions from being copied or profited from without permission.
3. Marketability: Patents make products more marketable by advertising them as unique and protected.
4. Licensing: Patents can be licensed to others for a fee or royalty payment.
5. Funding: Patents can help secure funding for further research and development.
6. Strategic advantage: Patents give inventors a strategic advantage by preventing competitors from entering the market with a similar product or technology.
Which one you should choose
Both trademarks and patents are essential types of intellectual property protection, but they serve different purposes. If you want to protect your brand and prevent others from using a similar mark, then trademark registration is the best option for you. If you have developed a new and useful invention, then patent registration is the way to go. In general, if your business relies on your brand and reputation, then you should prioritize trademark registration. If your business relies on inventing new products or processes, then patent registration should be your priority. However, in some cases, it may be beneficial to obtain both types of protection to fully safeguard your intellectual property.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the choice between trademark and patent registration depends on the nature of your idea or creation and the goals of your business. It is recommended to consult with an intellectual property attorney to help you navigate the registration process and determine which type of protection is best suited for your needs.
