The TM symbol, written as ™ or TM, signals that a person or business claims a word, phrase, logo, or design as a trademark. You can use it without federal registration, but the symbol alone does not establish registration or prove that the claimed mark is legally enforceable.
Key Takeaways
- TM means "trademark" and communicates a claim to a brand identifier.
- You do not need to file a federal trademark application before using TM.
- TM does not mean the mark is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
- Use SM for an unregistered service mark and ® only for a federally registered mark.
- You may continue using TM while a federal trademark application is pending.
- Trademark rights generally arise from using a mark in commerce, not from adding the symbol.
- The upper-right corner is the customary position, but consistent and visible placement matters more than a particular layout.
What Does the TM Symbol Mean?
TM is an acronym for "trademark." When TM appears beside a business name, product name, slogan, or logo, the owner is telling the public that it considers that element a trademark. A trademark identifies the source of goods and helps consumers distinguish those goods from competing products.
The meaning of TM is limited. It communicates a claim, not a government decision. Anyone viewing the symbol should not assume that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, has reviewed, approved, or registered the mark. The symbol also does not turn an otherwise unprotectable word or design into a valid trademark.
For example, if a product name appears as "SplashBlaster Pro™" or "SplashBlaster Pro (TM)," the notation indicates a claimed trademark. It does not reveal whether the owner filed an application, owns a registration, or could successfully stop another party from using a similar name. Those issues depend on facts such as actual commercial use, distinctiveness, priority, the goods involved, and the likelihood of consumer confusion.
You will sometimes see the letters written as T M, T.M., TM, or (TM). The single ™ character is the standard typographical trademark sign, but plain-text substitutes can communicate the same basic claim when the proper character is unavailable. None of these formats changes the registration status of the mark.
TM vs. SM vs. the Registered Trademark Symbol
TM, SM, and ® communicate different information. The correct choice depends primarily on what you offer and whether the USPTO has registered the mark. Copyright's © symbol is separate because copyright protects original creative expression rather than source-identifying branding.
| Symbol | What It Communicates | Registration Required? | Typical Use | When You May Use It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ™ or TM | The owner claims a trademark | No | Goods, products, and related branding | When claiming trademark rights, including before or during an application |
| ℠ or SM | The owner claims a service mark | No | Services | When claiming service-mark rights without federal registration |
| ® | The mark is federally registered | Yes | Goods or services covered by the registration | After the USPTO registers the mark, and only in connection with covered goods or services |
TM traditionally accompanies marks for goods, while SM identifies services. Businesses that provide both goods and services sometimes use TM as a practical brand-wide designation, although the more specific symbol may communicate the claim more precisely.
The registered trademark symbol is different. You may not use ® merely because you filed an application, paid a filing fee, or expect approval. The USPTO must first register the mark. For a closer comparison, see how the registered trademark character differs from an unregistered trademark notice.
When Can You Use TM?
You can display TM when you claim a word, phrase, logo, symbol, or design as a trademark. There is no separate TM form to submit, no permission to request, and no filing fee required simply to place the symbol beside the mark. This free, no-filing step is distinct from applying for federal trademark registration.
Using TM is common when a business first introduces a brand, decides to rely on unregistered rights, or has a federal application under review. A pending application does not authorize the registered symbol. During that period, the applicant may continue using TM for goods or SM for services. The business may switch to ® only after registration issues, and only for the goods or services covered by that registration.
Before displaying TM, consider whether the proposed wording or design actually functions as a trademark. A mark should identify your goods as coming from a particular source. Decorative wording, generic product names, and informational phrases may not perform that function. Adding TM does not correct those underlying problems.
You should also search for potentially conflicting marks before investing in packaging, signs, advertising, or a launch. Using TM does not excuse infringement of someone else's earlier rights. If your claim involves a logo, the process described in how to trademark a logo can help you separate early brand use from the later federal application process.
Does TM Create Trademark Rights?
No. Placing TM beside a name or logo does not itself create federal rights, guarantee common-law rights, or prove ownership. In the United States, trademark rights generally develop through use of a mark in connection with goods or services. The nature, timing, and geographic reach of that use can affect the scope of an unregistered owner's rights.
TM still serves a useful purpose. It gives visible notice that you treat the marked element as a source identifier and claim it as your trademark. That notice may discourage accidental copying and can support consistent internal treatment of the brand. It does not replace evidence of actual use, such as dated packaging, labels, sales materials, or website pages showing the mark associated with the relevant goods.
Federal registration is a separate legal process that can provide substantial advantages, including a legal presumption of ownership and nationwide rights in connection with the goods or services identified in the registration. You can review the USPTO's official trademark resources for current federal guidance. Registration is not automatic merely because you use TM, and the USPTO may refuse an application for legal or procedural reasons.
If you need to clear a proposed mark, assess existing rights, file an application, or respond to suspected infringement, you can post your legal need on UpCounsel's marketplace. A trademark attorney can review conflicting marks, advise which version of the mark and which goods or services to claim, prepare the application, and address disputes or USPTO correspondence. Responses typically arrive within a day.
What Does the TM Mean on a Logo?
TM on a logo means the owner claims the logo, or the branding shown with it, as a trademark. The symbol does not tell you whether the claim covers the complete design, the words inside it, a separate word mark, or some combination of those elements. It also does not confirm federal registration.
A logo may contain several potentially protectable features, including words, stylized lettering, shapes, colors, or a graphic design. Businesses should decide which elements matter commercially before applying for registration. Registering a word mark can present different issues from registering a design mark. A word-versus-design mark comparison can help you understand that distinction.
The TM symbol usually appears immediately after the logo without a space. Designers commonly place it at the upper-right corner as a smaller, raised character. The lower-right corner is another practical option when the logo's shape, spacing, or background makes the upper position difficult to read. A baseline TM can also work in plain text.
No particular corner changes the legal status of the mark. Choose a position that is visible, does not look like part of the logo itself, and remains consistent across packaging, advertising, websites, and sales materials. You generally do not need to attach TM to every appearance on the same page. Using it with the first or most prominent appearance often provides clear notice without cluttering the design.
How to Copy and Type the TM Symbol
The fastest option is to copy this character: ™. Paste it directly after the relevant word or logo name. If the character is unavailable, TM or (TM) is a readable plain-text substitute. The Unicode designation for the trademark sign is U+2122, TRADE MARK SIGN.
| Context | How to Enter TM |
|---|---|
| Copy and paste | Copy ™ and paste it after the mark |
| Windows | In applications that support numeric Alt codes, hold Alt and type 0153 on the numeric keypad |
| Mac | Press Option and 2 |
| Word processor | Open the Insert or Special Character menu and select the trademark sign |
| Web or HTML | Use the character itself or the HTML entity ™ |
| Android or mobile | Copy and paste ™, or look in the keyboard's symbols or special-character panel |
Keyboard layouts and applications vary. If a shortcut does not work, use the application's symbol picker or copy the character. On Android, the available menu depends on your keyboard app, so copying and pasting is often the most reliable method.
Use the real ™ character when typography matters, particularly on packaging or polished marketing materials. Plain TM remains useful in systems that do not display special characters correctly. For more detail about encoding and text formats, see this explanation of the trademark symbol and TM Unicode.
Practical Rules for Using Trademark Symbols
Start by matching the symbol to the mark's current status. Use TM for a claimed trademark associated with goods and SM for a claimed service mark. Use ® only after federal registration and only with the mark and goods or services covered by that registration. If a registration covers one product line but not another, do not assume the registered symbol applies across the entire business.
Keep the mark itself consistent. Repeated changes to spelling, wording, spacing, or logo design can make your records harder to manage and may affect how the public recognizes the brand. If you want protection for a name and logo together, review how a combined trademark differs from separate filings for individual elements.
- Do not treat TM as approval. It is an owner's notice, not a USPTO certification.
- Do not use ® while an application is pending. Wait until the USPTO registers the mark.
- Do not assume a symbol prevents infringement. Monitor the market and document your own use.
- Do not overuse the symbol. Place it at a prominent first appearance or where readers can readily see it.
- Do not ignore foreign rules. Trademark-symbol practices vary by country, particularly for the registered symbol.
Review packaging and online materials after registration, rebranding, or changes to your products and services. This helps ensure that each symbol still matches the mark's legal status and that ® does not appear beside goods or services outside the registration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does TM Mean?
TM means "trademark" when it appears beside a brand name, slogan, product name, or design. In other contexts, the same two letters may have unrelated meanings, so placement matters. A small, raised TM immediately following branding is normally a trademark notice rather than a general abbreviation.
What Does the TM Mean on a Logo?
TM on a logo tells viewers that the owner claims trademark significance in the displayed branding. It does not identify exactly which visual components the owner considers protectable. If the logo combines text and artwork, the claim may concern the overall image, individual elements, or both, depending on how the owner uses the branding.
How Do You Make the TM Sign on a Keyboard?
You can make the TM sign by using your device's character tool or a supported keyboard shortcut. If neither option is convenient, save ™ in a reusable brand template or text-replacement entry. This approach reduces formatting differences when several employees prepare contracts, presentations, packaging, or social media posts.
How Do You Make the TM Symbol on Android?
You can make the TM symbol on Android by checking the symbols panel in your installed keyboard or pasting ™ from a saved note. Android keyboards do not all organize special characters the same way. A personal dictionary or text shortcut may offer a faster solution if you use the sign frequently.
How Do You Put the TM Symbol After a Business Name?
Put ™ directly after the specific business name you claim as a mark, usually without an intervening space. Keep the company's legal suffix, such as LLC or Inc., separate unless it is genuinely part of the branding. For formal documents, distinguish the trademarked brand from the legal entity that owns or operates it.
