What does it mean to have a trademark or service mark?
These marks are a form of short hand that tells the public that a product or service comes from a certain source. We are surrounded by these marks. For instance, if you see the mark of “Apple” you most likely think of computers. And if you see the mark “Kodak,” you likely think of a product that is connected with photography. Both of these are very “strong” marks and are therefore accorded a high level of protection by federal trademark law. Other types of marks are merely “descriptive” of the product or service being offered. An example could be “Brite” Cleaners. Descriptive marks are not as strong as the “fanciful” or “arbitrary” marks referred to above. For that reason, they may not be eligible for federal trademark protection.
