Certified Research Administrator Practice Exam

What term describes a word, name, symbol, or device used in trade to indicate the source of goods?

1. Brand Name

2. Logo

3. Servicemark

4. Trademark

The correct answer is: Trademark

The term that describes a word, name, symbol, or device used in trade to indicate the source of goods is "trademark." A trademark serves as a badge of origin, distinguishing the goods of one entity from those of others and helping to protect the proprietary rights of the owner. This is important for both the businesses that own the trademarks and for consumers seeking to identify and purchase specific products. In the context of the other options, a brand name specifically refers to the name given to a product or service to differentiate it, which can be part of a trademark but doesn't encompass all elements like symbols or devices. A logo is a graphic representation of a brand, which can be a component of a trademark as well but does not include the word or name aspect. A servicemark is similar to a trademark but specifically applies to services rather than goods, thus it is not the correct term in this case. Therefore, "trademark" is the most comprehensive term to describe the various elements used in trade to indicate the source of goods.