How Certification Marks Differ From Trademarks

Posted: Oct 23, 2010 |Comments: 0 |

Section 4 of the Lanham Act provides for the registration of certification marks. A certification mark is any word, name, symbol, or device, or any combination thereof used by a person other than its owner to certify regional or other origin, material, mode of manufacture, quality, accuracy, or other characteristics of such person s goods or services or that the work or labor on the goods or services was performed by members of a union or other organization..

Types of Certification Marks

There are three types of certification marks:

1. Certification marks that certify that goods or services originate in a specific geographic region.

2. Certification marks that certify that the goods or services meet certain standards in relation to quality, materials, or mode of manufacture.

3. Certification marks that certify that a member of a union or other organization performed the work or labor on the products or services or that the product meets certain standards.

Certification marks differ from trademarks or service marks because of the following characteristics: (1) a certification mark is not used by its owner, and (2) a certification mark does not indicate commercial source nor distinguish the goods or services of one person from those of another.

Purpose of Certification Mark

The purpose of a certification mark is to inform purchasers that the goods or services possess certain characteristics or meet certain qualifications or standards established by another person or organization. A certification mark does not indicate origin in a single commercial or proprietary source. Under certification, the same mark is used on the goods or services of many different producers. The message conveyed by a certification mark is that the goods or services have been examined, tested, inspected, or in some way checked by a person who is not their producer, by methods determined by the certifier/owner. The placing of the mark on goods or its use in connection with services constitutes a certification by someone other than the producer that the prescribed characteristics or qualifications of the certifier for those goods or services have been met.

Registration of Certification Marks

The same standards are used to determine the registrability of certification marks that are used for other types of trademarks. Thus, the standards generally applicable to trademarks, such as descriptiveness, disclaimers, and likelihood of confusion are also considered for certification marks.

For more information on certification marks or other FlatFee Trademark registration services, contact us to schedule your complimentary consultation. Call 1.800.769.7790 or send an email inquiry to info@flatfeetrademark.com.

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