tm, sm, and the ® symbol: what they mean and when to use them

The small symbols beside brand names are not just decoration. Each one signals a specific legal status, and using them correctly matters.

The ™ symbol

The ™ symbol indicates that you are claiming a mark as your trademark. You can use it on any mark — including one that is unregistered or whose application is still pending. It puts the world on notice that you regard the mark as yours, but it does not, by itself, confer registered rights.

The SM symbol

SM stands for "service mark" and is occasionally used for services rather than goods. In India, ™ is commonly used for both, so you will see SM far less often.

The ® symbol

The ® symbol means the mark is officially registered. This is the important one: you may only use ® once your trademark has actually been registered and the certificate issued. Using ® on an unregistered mark — or while the application is merely pending — is improper and can have legal consequences.

Quick rule of thumb

• Applied / pending / unregistered: use ™.
• Registered: you may use ®.