Key Takeaways

  • Trademark symbols include ™ (unregistered/common law), ® (registered), and ℠ (service mark).
  • The ™ symbol’s Unicode is U+2122, and it can be inserted using keyboard shortcuts, HTML entities, or copy-paste.
  • Using trademark symbols provides notice of rights, deters infringement, and strengthens legal claims.
  • Overuse of symbols may clutter designs, but strategic placement ensures clarity without disrupting branding.
  • Different countries have varying rules for symbol usage; misuse abroad may lead to unfair competition claims.

What Is a Trademark Symbol?

There are two main trademark symbols: ™ (HTML: &amp#8482; or &amptrade; or Unicode: U+2122) and ® (HTML: &ampreg; or Unicode: U+000AE) and a third less common: ℠ (HTML: &amp#8480; or Unicode: U+02120). These symbols promote a piece of intellectual property and its trademark status. They distinguish a company's goods and services. You should use trademark symbols with a range of intellectual property, including your brand name, your product names, your logo, and your slogan.

The ™ symbol stands for trademark. This is sometimes called a common law trademark or unregistered trademark. Any mark automatically gets a common law trademark once it's used in commerce. You do not need to file any paperwork or get anyone's approval to use this symbol. The ™ symbol was first used in the United States and the United Kingdom, but its use has spread throughout the world. While the ™ symbol indicates common law rights, your common law trademark offers less protection than a registered trademark.

The registered trademark symbol is ®. This is the trademark applied to goods or services once the common law trademark is registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). You can only use this symbol with a piece of registered intellectual property used in connected with the goods and services noted on your federal registration certificate. You cannot use it where you have a common law trademark or a trademark pending.

A less common trademark symbol is SM . This symbol stands for service mark. It's the common law trademark applied to services, like lawn mowing or manicures, once they are used in commerce. Like the ™ symbol, SM can be used freely without filing paperwork. Many people avoid using the SM symbol because it's not widely understood and the letters SM have undesirable connotations. People with common law service marks can use the symbol ™ in its place, as a service mark is a type of trademark.

These symbols show your trademark status within the United States. However, they are recognized and understood throughout the world.

Understanding TM Unicode and Encoding

The ™ symbol is more than a visual marker—it has a defined code in digital systems known as tm unicode. The Unicode value for ™ is U+2122, ensuring the symbol displays consistently across different platforms, devices, and software. Similarly, the registered ® symbol is U+00AE, and the ℠ service mark is U+2120.

For online content, you can also use HTML entities to insert these characters:

  • ™ = ™ or ™
  • ® = ® or ®
  • ℠ = ℠

Understanding these encodings ensures your brand symbols render correctly in websites, apps, contracts, and international documents.

Using the Trademark Symbols

Trademark symbols can be a great way to promote your intellectual copy's trademark on a variety of materials including:

  • Brochures
  • Advertisements
  • Websites
  • Press releases
  • Press articles
  • Company documents

There are no rules about the placement of trademark symbols. However, most trademark holders place the symbols in one of three positions:

  • The upper right-hand corner of a mark
  • The lower right-hand corner of a mark
  • Level with the mark

It's uncommon and not advisable to place the trademark symbol below, above, or left of your mark.

Placing your trademark symbol in a prominent and expected place helps people notice it. You can further set trademarked text apart by writing it in bold, italics, uppercase letters, or even a different typeface.

In documents like company reports or press releases, the trademark symbol is traditionally written directly after the mark without a space. Some people write trademark symbols after the first or most noticeable mention of the mark, while others prefer to use the symbols after every incident. This can create unnecessary clutter, though, and may detract from the look of your piece. It may also make it harder to read.

Another alternative is using *(asterisk) or †(dagger) or ‡(double dagger) symbols near the first use of the trademark, then detailing the trademark in a footnote.

  • † NIKE and the swoosh logo are trademarks registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office.
  • NIKE and the swoosh logo. Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off.

You could use bold, italics, uppercase letters, or a different type to show trademarks, then explain them in a footnote. All footnotes for registered trademarks must refer to the registration as above. A footnote for a common law trademark might look something like this.

  • † The crown logo is a trademark of MyCompany, Inc.

You should always use the trademark symbol, or a placeholder for it, with the first instance of the mark. The first page of each written document should have at least one obvious use of the trademark symbol.

Businesses commonly list the trademark holder and all trademarks used on a website or printed document at the bottom of the site or page.

While trademarks should be noticeable, the ® symbol is typically printed in superscript and smaller type than the mark, just as the ™ symbol always is. This helps the symbol stand out without dominating a design.

Best Practices for Trademark Symbols in Branding

Trademark symbols not only serve a legal function but also a branding one. Businesses often integrate ™ or ® into logos, product names, and advertising campaigns. Placement should balance visibility and aesthetics—ensuring consumers recognize your rights without overwhelming the design.

Best practices include:

  • Use ™ for new brands before registration to establish common law rights.
  • Transition to ® once registration is approved.
  • Apply ℠ to highlight service-based offerings if you wish to differentiate them.
  • Include a trademark attribution statement at the bottom of webpages or documents (e.g., “Nike and the swoosh logo are registered trademarks of Nike, Inc.”).

These practices help reinforce brand identity while signaling legal protection.

Inserting the Trademark Symbols into Documents

There are a number of techniques for inserting trademark symbols into your documents. The technique you use may depend on your computer type, the program you're running, and your personal preference.

For most PC desktops and laptops running Windows, make sure number lock is on. Press the Alt key together with the number 0153 or 8482 for ™, 0174 for ®, and ℠ for service mark. Press the numbers on the number pad and not the ones above the letters.

Windows users can also use the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator to assign shortcuts or shift states to the trademark symbols. You can assign any combination of keys that makes sense to any trademark. For example, you might type the ™ symbol when you press the right alt key and the letter T together.

You could also use the MS Windows Character Map or CharMap to view all characters and symbols in all fonts, including the trademark symbols. Just click on the symbol you want to insert it.

Mac users have other options. The easiest is pressing the option key together with the number two for ™ and with the letter R for ®. Alternatively, you can click on the symbols you want using Character Palette, which shows all characters and symbols installed on your Mac.

Regardless of your operating system, you should be able to insert your trademark symbol using your preferred word processor. Most word processing software has an "insert symbol" or "special character" function. You usually find these in the edit or insert menus. Just browse through the symbols and click when you find the right one. Many word processors also automatically convert (TM) and (R) into the ™ and ® symbols. Or you could simply copy the symbols from an article like this and paste them into your own document.

TM Unicode Shortcuts for Digital Use

Using tm unicode makes it easier to add symbols consistently across platforms. Some quick input methods include:

  • Windows:
    • ™ = Alt + 0153 or Alt + 8482
    • ® = Alt + 0174
    • ℠ = Alt + 8480
  • MacOS:
    • ™ = Option + 2
    • ® = Option + R
    • ℠ = No direct shortcut; insert via Character Viewer
  • Web/HTML:
    • ™ = ™ or ™
    • ® = ® or ®
    • ℠ = ℠

For designers, ensuring these symbols display correctly in fonts and across browsers is crucial. Unicode encoding helps avoid broken characters or replacement boxes (“tofu”) in digital materials.

Reasons to Use Trademark Symbols

  • They tell your competitors of your trademarks. Trademark symbols tell other businesses in your industry about your trademark on certain pieces of intellectual property, including your brand name and logo. This notice may be enough to deter your rivals from infringing on your copyright. Just as you hope others respect your trademarks, you should always respect the trademarks of other businesses. This benefits your reputation and makes sure your customers are never confused about your brand.
  • They protect your trademark rights. If your trademark is registered, using the ® symbol protects your registration rights. Using the ® symbol correctly gives future defendants constructive knowledge of your mark's registration. It would be almost impossible for a defendant to claim they didn't know about your trademark. But if you don't use the symbol, you may not be able to claim damages and legal costs from someone who infringes on your trademark. Using the ® symbol can also stop your trademark from becoming generic because it reminds people of the origin of your products and services. The ™ symbol also provides some protection, but this is more limited.
  • They make your mark distinctive. Before your trademark is registered, the ™ symbol can help your mark become unique. This can improve your chances of getting registration later, especially if your mark may be difficult to register because it's too descriptive.
  • It's best practice. Using trademark symbols consistently with your trademarks is considered good business practice. Their use is conventional and based on the precedent of so many businesses that have come before. There is a certain comfort level for other businesses and customers when they know what to expect from you.

Reasons Not to Use Trademark Symbols

Despite the benefits trademark symbols bring, using them in the United States is optional. U.S. law differs from regulations in Mexico, Chile, the Philippines, and Peru. In these nations, the trademark may be challenged by a third party if a trademark holder doesn't use the ® symbol. Given that Americans have a choice, it's important to consider why you might not use the trademark symbol on any given piece of marketing material.

Trademark symbols can make a clean piece of marketing material seem cluttered and messy. Using the ™ or ® symbols is optional, so if you feel their use compromises your artistic vision or a document's readability you can always leave them off. Just remember the benefits of using the trademark symbol provides when making your decision.

International Variations in TM Usage

Trademark symbol rules differ across jurisdictions. While in the U.S. use of ™ and ® is optional (though encouraged), some countries have stricter requirements:

  • UK: You may use ® or the abbreviation “RTM” if registered, but not for common law marks.
  • France: Misusing ® for unregistered marks can amount to unfair competition.
  • Germany: Courts have considered ™ misleading unless tied to a valid registration.
  • Latin America (e.g., Peru, Chile, Mexico): ® must be used with registered marks, or the mark may be vulnerable to challenge.

When expanding internationally, consult local rules to avoid misrepresentation. Misuse abroad could weaken enforcement and create reputational risks.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is the Unicode for the TM symbol?
    The Unicode for ™ is U+2122. This ensures it displays consistently across platforms and can also be written as ™ or ™ in HTML.
  2. Is it mandatory to use ™ or ® on my brand?
    In the U.S., use is optional but recommended. Some countries, however, require the ® symbol for registered marks.
  3. Can I use ™ before my trademark is registered?
    Yes. ™ establishes common law rights and signals your intent to claim the mark, even without USPTO registration.
  4. Why does my ™ symbol sometimes not display online?
    This usually happens if Unicode encoding isn’t applied or the font doesn’t support the character. Using tm unicode ensures proper display.
  5. Do different countries recognize ™ and ® the same way?
    No. Each country has its own rules. For example, the UK accepts RTM, while France may treat misuse of ® as unfair competition.

If you need help identifying tm unicode, you can post your legal need on UpCounsel’s marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.