Related Episodes

Copyright Law for Artists
The Truth About Fair Use

Resources

USPTO
Search for Registered USA Trademarks
Search your state government’s website for locally registered trademarks.
Search foreign trademark office websites for marks registered in other countries.
Search the internet for common law marks not registered anywhere.

™ Unregistered Trademark (goods, like comic books)
℠ Unregistered Service Mark (services, like animation production)
® Federally Registered Trademark or Service Mark (illegal to use ® without federal approval)

Trademarks and service marks do the same thing. The USA makes it confusing by calling it different names for marking goods versus services.