There are also differences between trademarks and geographical trademarks, and the two cannot be discussed together. A trademark is a mark used to distinguish one operator's brand or services from the goods or services of other operators. A trademark is a sign with distinctive characteristics consisting of words, graphics, letters, numbers, three-dimensional logos, color combinations, or a combination of the above elements, and is a product of the modern economy.

Trademark is a legal concept. A trademark must be approved and registered by the state before it can become a "registered trademark" and be protected by law. What we usually call trademarks are registered trademarks, and unregistered marks are not protected by law.

A geographical indication is a sign that indicates that a product originates from a certain region. The specific quality, reputation or other characteristics of the product are mainly determined by the natural factors or human factors of the region. "Place name and product name" are the core content of geographical indications. What the registrant of a geographical indication obtains is not the exclusive right to trademark the words "place name and product name", but the exclusive right to the special logo of the geographical indication.

In my country, geographical indications are registered, registered and managed mainly by the State Intellectual Property Office and the Ministry of Agriculture. Geographical indication is also a legal concept, but it has more origin attributes than a registered trademark.

Trademark VS Geographical Indication

Difference 1: Geographical indications have extremely rich connotations

Trademarks can be designed during use or application, and the connotation of a trademark is also due to registration Different people and users have different concepts of trademark design, different types of goods to which the trademark refers, and different methods of trademark maintenance, which lead to different connotations.

Geographic indications not only point to specific specialty products, but also represent the special natural environment, ecological construction, cultural traditions and production methods that produce specialty products, and have extremely rich connotations.

Difference 2: The composition of the logo is different

In terms of the specific composition of the logo, geographical indications generally use the common name on the logo of the common name of the product. However, general trademarks do not use a large number of common names of goods.

Difference 3: The range of origin of goods is different

There is no restriction on the range of origin of goods marked with a trademark. Goods marked with geographical indications can only be produced in specific natural areas. Therefore, during the application and review process for geographical indications, it is required to clearly delineate the origin range of the geographical indication.

As a trademark right, a generally registered trademark can not only be licensed to others for use, but its transfer is also unrestricted. The particularity of geographical indications determines that geographical indications cannot be used by entities outside the delineated origin, let alone transfer geographical indications to entities outside the geographical indication industry.