Label vs. Trademark — What's the Difference?

Helps in identifying product origin and manufacturer.

A registered symbol, word, or phrase that identifies a brand.

A label (as distinct from signage) is a piece of paper, plastic film, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or product, on which is written or printed information or symbols about the product or item. Information printed directly on a container or article can also be considered labelling.

Legal protection against imitation or misuse.

An item used to identify something or someone, as a small piece of paper or cloth attached to an article to designate its origin, owner, contents, use, or destination.

Essential for brand identity in the market.

A descriptive term; an epithet.

Can be a logo, name, or distinctive feature.

A distinctive name or trademark identifying a product or manufacturer, especially a recording company.

A trademark (also written trade mark or trade-mark) is a type of intellectual property consisting of a recognizable sign, design, or expression which identifies products or services of a particular source from those of others, although trademarks used to identify services are usually called service marks. The trademark owner can be an individual, business organization, or any legal entity.

(Architecture) A molding over a door or window; a dripstone.

A symbol, word, or words legally registered or established by use as representing a company or product.

(Heraldry) A figure in a field consisting of a narrow horizontal bar with several pendants.

Provide with a trademark

(Chemistry) See tracer.

Abbr. TM A name, symbol, or other device used to identify and promote a product or service, especially an officially registered name or symbol that is thereby protected against use by others.

To attach a label to

A distinctive characteristic by which a person or thing comes to be known

To identify or designate with a descriptive term; describe or classify

To label (a product) with proprietary identification.

(Chemistry) To add a tracer to (a compound).

To register (something) as a trademark.

A small ticket or sign giving information about something to which it is attached or intended to be attached.

A word, symbol, or phrase used to identify a particular company's product and differentiate it from other companies' products.

A name given to something or someone to categorise them as part of a particular social group.

Any proprietary business, product or service name.

(music) A company that sells records.

The aspect for which someone or something is best known; a hallmark or typical characteristic.

(computing) A user-defined alias for a numerical designation, the reverse of an enumeration.

(proscribed) To register something as a trademark.

(computing) A named place in source code that can be jumped to using a GOTO or equivalent construct.

(proscribed) To so label a product.

(heraldry) A charge resembling the strap crossing the horse’s chest from which pendants are hung.

(informal) Distinctive, characteristic, signature.

(obsolete) A tassel.

A distinctive characteristic or attribute

A small strip, especially of paper or parchment (or of some material attached to parchment to carry the seal), but also of iron, brass, land, etc.

A formally registered symbol identifying the manufacturer or distributor of a product

A piece of writing added to something, such as a codicil appended to a will.

Requires governmental registration for protection.

(historical) A brass rule with sights, formerly used with a circumferentor to take altitudes.

(architecture) The projecting moulding by the sides, and over the tops, of openings in mediaeval architecture.

In mediaeval and later art, a representation of a band or scroll containing an inscription.

(graphical user interface) A non-interactive control or widget displaying text, often used to describe the purpose of another control.

(transitive) To put a label (a ticket or sign) on (something).

(ditransitive) To give a label to (someone or something) in order to categorise that person or thing.

(biochemistry) To replace specific atoms by their isotope in order to track the presence or movement of this isotope through a reaction, metabolic pathway or cell.

(biochemistry) To add a detectable substance, either transiently or permanently, to a biological substance in order to track the presence of the label-substance combination either in situ or in vitro

A tassel.

A slip of silk, paper, parchment, etc., affixed to anything, and indicating, usually by an inscription, the contents, ownership, destination, etc.; as, the label of a bottle or a package.

A slip of ribbon, parchment, etc., attached to a document to hold the appended seal; also, the seal.

A writing annexed by way of addition, as a codicil added to a will.

A barrulet, or, rarely, a bendlet, with pendants, or points, usually three, especially used as a mark of cadency to distinguish an eldest or only son while his father is still living.

A brass rule with sights, formerly used, in connection with a circumferentor, to take altitudes.

The name now generally given to the projecting molding by the sides, and over the tops, of openings in mediæval architecture. It always has a square form, as in the illustration.

In mediæval art, the representation of a band or scroll containing an inscription.

To affix a label to; to mark with a name, etc.; as, to label a bottle or a package.

To affix in or on a label.

A brief description given for purposes of identification;

Trade name of a company that produces musical recordings;

A radioactive isotope that is used in a compound in order to trace the mechanism of a chemical reaction

An identifying or descriptive marker that is attached to an object

Assign a label to; designate with a label;

Attach a tag or label to;

Pronounce judgment on;

Distinguish (as a compound or molecule) by introducing a labeled atom

Distinguish (an element or atom) by using a radioactive isotope or an isotope of unusual mass for tracing through chemical reactions

A tag or sticker on a product providing specific information.

Informational tool for consumer awareness.

Can include branding elements like logos.

Required by law on certain products.

The primary purpose of a label is to provide consumers with important information about a product, such as its contents, manufacturer, and usage instructions.

A trademark protects a brand by giving the owner exclusive rights to use certain logos, names, or phrases commercially, preventing others from using similar signs that could cause confusion.

Yes, a label can contain a trademark, such as a logo or brand name, to indicate the product’s origin and reinforce brand identity.

A trademark is obtained by registering it with the appropriate governmental body, which involves proving that the mark is distinctive and not similar to existing trademarks.

Using someone else’s trademark without permission can lead to legal actions, including lawsuits for trademark infringement.

Yes, a trademark can become generic if it is used widely by the public to describe a type of product rather than the brand itself, potentially leading to loss of trademark protection.

While not necessary for all businesses, trademarks are crucial for those looking to protect their brand identity and prevent market confusion.

If a label is misleading or incorrect, it can lead to regulatory penalties, consumer lawsuits, and damage to the brand’s reputation.

A label typically includes information such as the product's contents, manufacturer details, nutritional facts, and safety instructions.

Trademark protection can last indefinitely, provided it is renewed at specified intervals and continues to be used in commerce.