Trademark symbols are commonly seen next to business names, logos, product names, and slogans. The two symbols you will see most often are ™ and ®.
Although they look similar, they do not mean the same thing.
The ™ symbol is generally used to claim trademark rights in a word, phrase, logo, or other brand identifier, even when the mark has not been federally registered. The ® symbol indicates that a trademark has been federally registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Understanding the difference between TM and R with circle is important because using the wrong symbol can create legal and branding problems.
What Does the TM Symbol Mean?
The ™ symbol stands for “trademark.”
Businesses commonly use TM after a brand name, logo, slogan, or other mark that they are claiming as a trademark.
For example:
BrightPeak™
The symbol tells customers and competitors that the business considers “BrightPeak” to be a trademark.
You do not generally have to wait for federal registration to use the TM symbol.
A business may use ™ when:
- It is developing a new brand.
- It has started using the name commercially.
- It has filed an application but has not received registration.
- It wants to publicly identify a claimed trademark.
- It has common law trademark rights based on use.
However, putting ™ next to a name does not automatically create federal trademark rights.
What Does the ® Symbol Mean?
The ® symbol means “registered trademark.”
It indicates that the trademark has been federally registered with the USPTO.
For example:
BrightPeak®
The symbol communicates that the mark has an active federal registration covering the relevant goods or services.
Unlike ™, the ® symbol should not be used simply because you have applied for a trademark.
You generally need an actual federal registration before using ® to identify that registered mark.
What Is the Difference Between TM and R With Circle?
The simplest explanation of the difference between TM and R with circle is registration status.
| Symbol | Meaning | Federal Registration Required? |
| ™ | Trademark claim | No |
| ® | Registered trademark | Yes |
The ™ symbol communicates a trademark claim.
The ® symbol communicates federal registration.
For example, a business that has developed the brand Blue Horizon but has not obtained federal registration may use:
Blue Horizon™
After the trademark is federally registered, the business may use:
Blue Horizon®
The ® symbol should be used only for the registered mark and in connection with the goods or services covered by the registration.
Can You Use TM Without Registering a Trademark?
Yes. You generally do not need a federal trademark registration before using ™.
A business may use the symbol to indicate that it claims trademark rights in a name, phrase, logo, or other brand identifier.
However, the symbol itself does not guarantee that the business owns exclusive rights to the mark.
For example, simply adding ™ to:
ABC Coffee™
does not prevent another company from challenging your rights in “ABC Coffee.”
Trademark rights depend on factors such as use, priority, distinctiveness, and other legal requirements.
Can You Use ® Without Registering a Trademark?
No. The ® symbol is specifically associated with federally registered trademarks.
Using ® on an unregistered mark can create problems because it may falsely suggest that the mark has been federally registered.
If your application is still pending, you should generally continue using ™ rather than ® until the registration has actually issued.
Similarly, if a registration expires or is cancelled, continued use of ® may no longer be appropriate.
When Should You Use the TM Symbol?
You can use ™ when you want to identify a word, name, phrase, logo, or other branding element as a trademark.
Common examples include:
Brand names:
Nike™
ExampleBrand™
Product names:
SmartClean™
EcoShield™
Slogans:
Better Business Starts Here™
The symbol can appear in a superscript position immediately after the mark.
There is no requirement that every use of the trademark contain the symbol.
Businesses often use it prominently on:
- First or most prominent use.
- Product packaging.
- Websites.
- Advertising.
- Marketing materials.
- Business documents.
When Should You Use the ® Symbol?
Use ® after your trademark has been federally registered and the use relates to the goods or services covered by that registration.
For example:
ExampleBrand®
You can use the symbol on:
- Websites.
- Packaging.
- Product labels.
- Advertising.
- Marketing materials.
- Business communications.
The purpose is to provide public notice that the mark has federal registration.
Does Using TM Give You Trademark Protection?
Not by itself.
This is a common misunderstanding.
The ™ symbol is a notice that you are claiming trademark rights. It does not turn an otherwise unprotectable name into a trademark.
For example, a generic term generally cannot become protectable simply because a company adds ™ to it.
Trademark protection depends on the underlying mark and how it is used.
A business should therefore conduct a proper trademark search before investing heavily in a brand.
Does Using ® Give You More Trademark Rights?
The ® symbol itself does not create trademark rights.
Federal registration provides important legal benefits, while the symbol communicates that registration to the public.
Federal registration can provide benefits such as:
- Nationwide constructive notice of ownership.
- A legal presumption of ownership and exclusive rights to the registered mark for the covered goods or services.
- Access to certain federal enforcement remedies.
- Ability to use the registration as a basis for certain international filings.
- Ability to use the ® symbol.
The exact rights and remedies depend on the circumstances and the registration.
Can You Use TM While Your Application Is Pending?
Yes.
If you have filed a federal application but the USPTO has not yet registered the mark, using ™ is generally appropriate.
Filing an application does not mean the mark is already federally registered.
The application still has to go through examination and other required steps before registration can issue.
Therefore:
Application pending = ™
Federal registration issued = ®
This distinction is especially important for businesses that file US trademark online and begin using their brand while the application is being examined.
What About the SM Symbol?
You may also encounter ℠, which stands for “service mark.”
It is generally used for a mark associated with services rather than physical goods.
For example:
FastFix℠
A business may use ℠ to claim a service mark before registration.
The practical distinction is:
- ™ = trademark used for goods.
- ℠ = service mark used for services.
- ® = federally registered trademark or service mark.
Once a mark is federally registered, ® can be used for the registered mark whether it identifies goods or services.
Where Should You Put a Trademark Symbol?
Trademark symbols are normally placed immediately after the trademark and appear in superscript.
For example:
DesignPro™
or:
DesignPro®
The symbol should be visually associated with the mark it identifies.
You do not necessarily need to place a symbol after every single use of the trademark.
Many businesses use the appropriate symbol on the first or most prominent use and then use the mark without the symbol throughout the rest of the material.
Can You Use TM in a Logo?
Yes.
A business can place ™ next to a logo to indicate that it is claiming the logo as a trademark.
For example:
[Logo]™
However, the symbol does not determine what elements of the logo are legally protected.
If your logo contains:
- Text
- Shapes
- Graphics
- Colors
- Illustrations
the scope of protection depends on the actual trademark and registration.
If the logo is federally registered, ® may be used appropriately after registration.
Does Every Registered Trademark Need the ® Symbol?
No. Federal registration does not require you to place ® after every use of your trademark.
However, using the symbol can provide notice to others that you claim federal registration.
Consistent use can also be useful when enforcing trademark rights.
The USPTO explains that federal law provides certain benefits from proper notice of registration, although the exact requirements and consequences depend on the circumstances.
Can You Put TM on a Business Name?
Yes, if you are using the business name as a trademark and claiming it as a source identifier.
For example:
Green Valley Foods™
But registering a business entity with a state does not automatically create federal trademark rights.
An LLC name and a trademark are different forms of protection.
If you want federal protection for a brand name, you should consider whether you should how to register a Trademark and whether federal registration makes sense for your business.
TM vs. ®: Quick Example
Imagine you launch a clothing brand called:
Urban Thread
Before federal registration, you may identify the brand as:
Urban Thread™
After the USPTO registers the trademark:
Urban Thread®
The change in symbol communicates an important difference.
The first indicates a trademark claim.
The second indicates federal registration.
Why Trademark Symbols Matter
Trademark symbols help businesses communicate the status of their brand rights.
They can also discourage competitors from adopting a similar mark because they provide notice that a business considers the branding important.
However, the symbols should be used accurately.
The most important rule is simple:
Do not use ® unless the relevant trademark is federally registered.
If you are still waiting for registration, ™ is generally the appropriate symbol.
Understanding the difference between TM and R with circle can help you avoid making an incorrect claim about your trademark status.
Are Trademark Symbols Legally Required?
No. You generally do not have to use a trademark symbol every time you use your brand.
However, using the appropriate symbol can provide notice to consumers and competitors that you are claiming trademark rights. The USPTO states that owners may use ™ for goods or SM for services even without filing an application. After federal registration, the owner may use ® with the registered mark.
The important distinction is that ® is restricted to federally registered marks and should only be used with the goods or services covered by the registration.
Is TM the Same as a Registered Trademark?
No. ™ indicates that you are claiming a trademark. It does not mean that the USPTO has approved or registered the mark.
For example:
YourBrand™
This tells others that you consider “YourBrand” to be a trademark.
By contrast:
YourBrand®
indicates that the mark has been federally registered.
An application that is still pending does not qualify for the ® symbol. The USPTO specifically states that the registration symbol cannot be used while an application is pending.
What Is the Difference Between TM and R With Circle?
The difference between TM and R with circle comes down to registration.
™ = trademark claim
® = federal trademark registration
You can use ™ without a federal registration. You can use ® after the USPTO has actually registered the mark.
The ® symbol also does not mean that you own the word or phrase in every situation. Federal trademark rights are connected to the specific goods or services identified in the registration.
What Does SM Mean?
SM means “service mark.”
It is generally used when the mark identifies services rather than goods.
For example:
QuickClean℠
A service provider may use SM even if it has not federally registered the mark.
The basic distinction is:
| Symbol | Meaning | Registration required? |
| ™ | Trademark for goods | No |
| ℠ | Service mark | No |
| ® | Federally registered trademark/service mark | Yes |
Once a service mark is federally registered, the owner can use ® rather than SM.
Can You Use TM After Filing a Trademark Application?
Yes. You can continue using ™ while your federal application is being examined.
Filing an application does not mean that the mark has already been registered. The USPTO must first examine the application and determine whether the mark meets federal registration requirements.
Therefore, if you have submitted an application for BrightPath, you can generally continue identifying it as:
BrightPath™
until the mark is federally registered.
Once registration is issued, you can transition to:
BrightPath®
Can You Use ® After Your Trademark Is Approved?
You should wait until the federal registration has actually issued.
“Approved” can sometimes be used informally to describe progress in the application process, but the important point is whether the USPTO has issued the federal registration.
The USPTO states that the registration symbol may only be used after the mark is registered.
Can You Use ® on All Your Products?
Not necessarily.
The ® symbol should be used with the trademark in connection with the goods or services covered by the federal registration.
For example, suppose a company has a federal registration for a brand covering clothing.
The company should not assume that the same registration automatically covers unrelated services such as software development or financial consulting.
Trademark protection is tied to the goods and services identified in the registration.
What Happens If You Use ® on an Unregistered Trademark?
Using ® on an unregistered mark can be improper.
The USPTO specifically states that the federal registration symbol cannot be used with a mark that is not actually registered with the USPTO. Deliberately using the symbol to deceive or mislead can create more serious legal issues.
A common mistake is using ® immediately after submitting a trademark application.
The correct approach is:
Application filed: ™ or ℠
Registration issued: ®
Can You Use TM If Someone Else Has Registered a Similar Trademark?
Using ™ does not give you priority over another trademark owner.
If another business already owns trademark rights in a similar mark for related goods or services, adding ™ to your version does not eliminate the potential conflict.
Before adopting a new brand, conduct a trademark search and evaluate whether existing marks could create a likelihood of confusion.
If you decide to file a US trademark online, the application should be based on a mark that you have properly evaluated rather than simply assuming that adding ™ makes the name available.
Where Should You Place the Trademark Symbol?
The symbol is commonly placed immediately after the trademark and slightly above the baseline.
Examples:
BrandName™
BrandName®
You can also place the symbol in a smaller superscript style.
The USPTO says the registration symbol can be placed anywhere around the trademark, although most trademark owners use it in superscript or subscript form to the right of the mark.
There is no requirement that the symbol appear in a particular font or exact position.
Should You Use a Trademark Symbol Every Time?
Not necessarily.
Many businesses use the appropriate symbol with the first or most prominent appearance of the mark and omit it from later uses.
For example:
BrightPath™ is a software company that helps small businesses manage their workflows. BrightPath provides tools for scheduling, reporting, and customer management.
The company does not necessarily need to write:
BrightPath™ provides BrightPath™ software to BrightPath™ customers.
That would make the copy difficult to read.
The goal is to provide reasonable notice without making normal business communications unnecessarily cluttered.
How Do You Type the Trademark Symbols?
The symbols are:
- ™ Trademark
- ℠ Service mark
- ® Registered trademark
On a Mac, the common shortcuts are:
- ™: Option + 2
- ®: Option + R
- ℠: Option + Shift + M
If you need to type the symbol on different Apple devices, operating systems, or applications, you can also copy and paste the appropriate symbol.
For more information on Apple’s keyboard shortcut, see the guide to the registered trademark symbol mac.
How Do You Type TM and ® on Windows?
On Windows, you can commonly use keyboard shortcuts with the numeric keypad:
- ™: Alt + 0153
- ®: Alt + 0174
Make sure Num Lock is enabled when using these Alt codes.
You can also use Windows’ character tools or simply copy the symbol from an existing document.
How Do You Type Trademark Symbols on an iPhone?
On an iPhone, you can use the emoji and symbol keyboard or copy and paste the symbols.
The easiest options are:
™
®
You can also create a text replacement in your keyboard settings if you frequently use the symbols in business communications.
For example, you could create a shortcut such as:
;tm → ™
;r → ®
This can make repeated use much faster.
How Do You Type Trademark Symbols on Android?
Android devices can also insert trademark symbols through the keyboard, depending on the keyboard app and device.
If the symbol is not directly available, copy and paste:
™
or:
®
Users who frequently write product descriptions, business names, or legal content may also create a custom text shortcut if their keyboard supports the feature.
What Happens to ® If a Trademark Registration Expires?
The ® symbol should not continue to be used as though the federal registration remains active if the registration has expired or been canceled.
Federal trademark registrations require ongoing maintenance.
For most registrations, the owner must file a required declaration between the fifth and sixth years after registration and then file renewal and maintenance documents between the ninth and tenth years, with additional renewal periods every 10 years.
There is also a six-month grace period for certain maintenance filings, subject to additional fees.
If the registration is canceled or expires because required filings were not made, the owner may need to file a new application to obtain federal registration again.
This is why understanding how long does a trademark last? is important for every registered trademark owner.
Does a Trademark Last Forever?
A federal trademark registration can potentially last indefinitely, provided the owner continues using the mark in commerce and completes the required maintenance filings.
The USPTO explains that registrations can continue as long as these requirements are met.
This is different from copyright protection, which has a defined copyright term under applicable law. You can learn more about this distinction in how long does a copyright protection last.
What If You Want Federal Trademark Protection?
If you are currently using ™ for your brand and want stronger federal protection, you can consider applying for federal registration.
The general process involves:
- Selecting the trademark.
- Searching for conflicting marks.
- Determining the appropriate goods or services.
- Selecting a filing basis.
- Preparing the application.
- Filing with the USPTO.
- Responding to any Office Action.
- Completing the registration process.
- Maintaining the registration after approval.
If your goal is to register a Trademark, it is important to understand that filing an application does not guarantee registration.
The USPTO reviews applications and determines whether the mark meets the applicable requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Meaning of R in Trademark?
The R in a trademark means the mark is federally registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). It is commonly displayed inside a circle as ®. The symbol indicates that the owner has a federal trademark registration for the mark.
What Is the R in a Circle Symbol vs. TM?
The ® symbol means the trademark is federally registered, while ™ means the owner is claiming trademark rights but does not have to have a federal registration.
For example, BrandName™ can be used for an unregistered trademark. BrandName® should only be used after the trademark has been federally registered.
What Does an R Circled Mean?
An R circled (®) means “registered trademark.” In the United States, it indicates that the trademark has been registered with the USPTO. The symbol can help notify others that the owner has federal trademark rights in the registered mark.
How to Use the R Trademark Symbol?
Use ® only after your trademark has been federally registered. It is normally placed immediately after the trademark name, logo, or other registered mark.
For example:
ABC Company®
Do not use ® while your application is still pending or if the mark has not been federally registered. For an unregistered trademark, use ™ for goods or ℠ for services instead.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the difference between TM and R with circle is simple once you remember the basic rule:
™ = trademark claim
℠ = service mark claim
® = federally registered trademark or service mark
You can generally use ™ before filing or while a trademark application is pending. Once the USPTO issues the federal registration, you can use ® with the registered mark and covered goods or services.
If you want federal protection for your brand, the next step is to conduct a proper search and determine whether you are ready to file a US trademark online. Registration can provide important benefits, but it also comes with ongoing maintenance obligations.
