Trademark – When do I use TM and ® Symbols

Before your trademark is registered or approved by the respective filing authorities, you can use TM to indicate that you have unofficially claimed this phrase, word, slogan, numeric, symbol or a combination of these to market your product. Using TM does not offer it rights as TM can be claimed by any company.

The ® symbol denotes that the preceding phrase, word, slogan, numeric, symbol or a combination of these is a registered trademark and is protected under the trademark law. The owner of the ® symbol now has exclusive rights to use the trademark on a national scale in the respective country which the trademark is granted approval. Any unauthorized use of the trademark can now lead to a legal proceeding for trademark infringement within the approved nation.