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What does the service mark symbol ℠ mean?

Senior Trademark Attorney

The ℠ symbol signifies a service mark, which is a type of trademark used in connection with services specifically, rather than physical goods. The ℠ symbol, much like the ™ is not governed by legal guidelines, and it can be used freely to signal a brand owner's intent to register.

Once registration is successfully completed, the ℠ or ™ symbol is replaced by the ® sign, which is legally reserved for registered trademarks and may not be used freely.

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