A mark visually representing ownership of intangible creations, such as trademarks or copyrights, signifies a brand’s exclusive rights and distinguishes its products or services. For example, the stylized “R” enclosed in a circle or the “TM” symbol adjacent to a design indicates legal protection against unauthorized use.
Protecting creative works through visual identification offers significant advantages. It builds brand recognition, fosters consumer trust, and deters infringement. Historically, such symbols emerged alongside the development of intellectual property law, providing a readily identifiable means of asserting ownership and communicating legal standing to the public.