A trademark is always associated with a specific good or service sold to a customer using that trademark. You cannot register a word, phrase, symbol or design as a trademark without clearly identifying the goods or services used. Your trademark is not limited to one kind of goods or services. It can be used for many different goods or services, including goods and services.

While it can be confusing to determine whether you own a good or service, making the right identification is critical. Think of it this way: What are customers buying from you? Actual physical product with your trademark? Or do they hire you to perform activities for them? If it’s a product, you’ve got it. If it’s an event, you have a service.

For example, a registered trademark of the bookstore name A Good Yarn TM will prevent another company from registering the name A Good Yarn TM for another bookstore.

By specifying the goods or services your trademark represents in your registration, you can clearly identify the scope of use. You can legally prevent others from using the same or similar trademarks on related goods or services without your permission. Applying for more goods or services than you currently use or intend to use may result in your application being denied. We may ask whether the logo you choose accurately identifies your goods or services.

To learn more, watch a video about goods and services, and see a list of acceptable goods or service identifiers in our ID Handbook.