Word Mark vs Word/Design Combo Mark vs Design Mark
1 min read
Mark Characteristics
| Word Mark | Word/Design Combo Mark | Design Mark |
|---|---|---|
|
Mark filed without any claim to stylization or design. |
Mark filed with a claim to a specific stylization and/or a combination of a word and a design element together. |
Mark filed as a design without any text. |
Word Mark
Mark filed without any claim to stylization or design.
Word/Design Combo Mark
Mark filed with a claim to a specific stylization and/or a combination of a word and a design element together.
Design Mark
Mark filed as a design without any text.
Examples
| Word Mark | Word/Design Combo Mark | Design Mark |
|---|---|---|
|
COCA COLA® |
 |
 |
Word Mark
COCA COLA®
Word/Design Combo Mark
Design Mark
Requirements
| Word Mark | Word/Design Combo Mark | Design Mark |
|---|---|---|
|
Use of mark either in standard type or with a stylization or design element can all qualify as use of the word mark. The word mark provides for flexibility because it can be maintained even as a brand logo stylization or design component evolves.
The one downside to a word mark is that federal protection only extends to the words and not to any specific stylization or design elements. |
Specific stylization or word/design combination needs to be used without any material changes in order to maintain any registration that issues. If the stylization or design changes, the mark and corresponding registration could be abandoned. |
Design needs to be used in same form without any material changes to maintain any registration that issues. If the design changes, the mark and corresponding registration could be abandoned. |
Word Mark
Use of mark either in standard type or with a stylization or design element can all qualify as use of the word mark. The word mark provides for flexibility because it can be maintained even as a brand logo stylization or design component evolves.
The one downside to a word mark is that federal protection only extends to the words and not to any specific stylization or design elements.
Word/Design Combo Mark
Specific stylization or word/design combination needs to be used without any material changes in order to maintain any registration that issues. If the stylization or design changes, the mark and corresponding registration could be abandoned.
Design Mark
Design needs to be used in same form without any material changes to maintain any registration that issues. If the design changes, the mark and corresponding registration could be abandoned.
