What is a trademark and why are trademarks important to hedge fund managers?
A trademark is generally a word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination of words, phrases, symbols or designs, that identifies the source of a product or service and distinguishes the source of that product or service from the source of other products or services. In the case of hedge funds, the fund’s trademark is frequently the same as or comprises a portion of the fund’s name. For example, in the case of a fund where the investment manager is ABC Capital Management, LLC, the general partner is ABC Capital, LLC, and the fund is ABC Partners, LP, the mark ABC may be considered the fund’s trademark, since it is by this portion of the fund’s name that the fund is recognized by the public. Establishing valid trademark rights is important because owning valid trademark rights entitles the trademark owner to prevent third parties from using the same or a confusingly similar mark for the same or related goods or services to those of the trademark owner. This can prevent the public from
