Social:Wordmark
| Wordmark Examples |
|---|
| APPLE |
| COCA-COLA |
| DISNEY |
| FEDEX |
| IBM |
| IPHONE |
| MICROSOFT |
| Note: Trademarked wordmarks are generally not case-sensitive and are listed in uppercase by trademark registrars. |
A wordmark or word mark is a distinct text-only typographic treatment of the name of a product, service, company, organization, or institution which is used for purposes of identification and branding. A wordmark can be an actual word (e.g., Apple), a made-up name that reads like a word (e.g., Google), or an acronym, initialism, or a series of letters (e.g., IBM).
In many jurisdictions, such as the United States and European Union,[1] a wordmark may be registered as a trademark, making it a protected intellectual property.[2]
Unlike names and logos, trademarked wordmarks are generally not case-sensitive and are listed in uppercase by trademark registrars such as the United States Patent and Trademark Office, even if they are always cased in a certain way by the owner; this gives the trademark holder rights no matter how the wordmark is presented[citation needed]. Some examples are shown in the sidebar.
In the United States, the legal term "word mark" refers only to the text, not to any graphical representation.[2]
In most cases, wordmarks cannot be copyrighted, as they do not reach the threshold of originality.[3]
Comparison with logos
Wordmarks and logos are the two most common types of brand marks.[citation needed] Wordmarks, by definition, always contain the name of the product or company, whereas a logo might be a textless image only. For example, the Coca-Cola, Disney, and FedEx logos are graphical versions of those names, while the Starbucks logo contains no text.
A wordmark logo (also called a lettermark or a lettermark logo) is a type of logo, not a type of wordmark, which consists of just text set in a particular style, such as a typeface or color, without other graphical features.[citation needed] For example, the SONY logo contains only the name in uppercase, set in a particular typeface. In some cases, such as Disney's logo, a custom or proprietary typeface is used.[citation needed]
See also
- Logo
- Icon
- Slogan
- Trademark
Notes
References
- ↑ "Trade mark definition". Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market. https://oami.europa.eu/ohimportal/en/trade-mark-definition.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Harris, Daren (May 26, 2023). "Word Mark vs. Design Mark". Northwest Registered Agent. https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/trademark-service/word-mark-vs-design-mark.
- ↑ Wolfe, Zach (April 12, 2021). "The originality requirement in copyright law". Five Minute Law. https://fiveminutelaw.com/2021/04/12/the-originality-requirement-in-copyright-law.
Further reading
- Wheeler, Alina. Designing Brand Identity: A Complete Guide to Creating, Building, and Maintaining Strong Brands. Wiley: 2006. ISBN:978-0-471-74684-3.
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