How Does A Trademark Differ From A Service Mark?
Fundamentally there is no difference between Trademarks and Service Marks as both function to identify the source and origin of products and services. Technically, the difference lies in that Trademarks identify tangible goods, such as automobiles, computer monitors, or clothing and the Trademark itself is usually displayed directly on the goods, their labels, or packaging. Service marks generally identify intangible processes or functions like financial advice, web site design or transportation. Service Marks are used in advertising to identify the source of the service at issue and differentiate that service from others. In some instances, a single mark may serve as both a Trademark and a Service Mark.
