It refers to the words, graphics, letters, and characters used by producers and operators on goods and their packaging or on service marks in order to distinguish their own goods or services from those of others. A visual mark composed of numbers, three-dimensional logos and color combinations, as well as combinations of the above elements.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (world intellectual property organization, wipo for short) defines a trademark as: a trademark is a sign used to distinguish the goods of an industrial or commercial enterprise or such an enterprise group.

The International Association for the Protection of Industrial Property (aippi) defined trademarks at the Berlin Congress: "A trademark is a mark used to distinguish the goods and services provided by an individual or a collective."

< p>The French government stated in its "Trademark Law": "All tangible signs used to identify the products, goods or services of any enterprise may be regarded as trademarks."

The characteristics of a trademark are: :

(1) A trademark is a mark used on goods or services, which cannot be separated from the goods or services and is attached to the goods or services.

(2) A trademark is a sign that distinguishes the goods or services of others and has a particularly distinctive distinguishing function, thereby making it easy for consumers to identify. The composition of a trademark is an artistic creation.

(3) A trademark is a visible sign consisting of text, graphics, letters, numbers, three-dimensional signs and colors, as well as a combination of the above elements.

(4) The trademark is exclusive. The purpose of using a trademark is to distinguish the goods or services from others and facilitate consumer identification. Therefore, the owner of a registered trademark has exclusive rights to his trademark and is protected by law. No one may use the same or similar trademark without the permission of the trademark owner. Otherwise, it will constitute an infringement of the registered trademark. The owner of the right shall bear the corresponding legal liability for the exclusive right to use the trademark.

(5) A trademark is an intangible asset and has value. A trademark represents the quality reputation and corporate reputation and image of the trademark owner's production or operation. The trademark owner makes the trademark valuable and increases the added value of the goods through the trademark's creativity, design, application for registration, advertising and use. The value of a trademark can be determined through an appraisal. Trademarks can be transferred for a fee, and others can be allowed to use them with the consent of the trademark owner.

(6) Trademark is the carrier of product information and a tool to participate in market competition. The competition among producers and operators is the competition for the quality and reputation of goods or services, and its manifestation is the competition for trademark visibility. The higher the trademark visibility, the stronger the competitiveness of its goods or services.