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Trademarks, Patents and Copyrights

A trademark, servicemark or tradename is a word, name symbol, device or combination thereof, adopted and used by a manufacturer, service provider or merchant to identify goods and services in order to distinguish them from others. A patent gives legal recognition to the inventor, creator or discoverer of a new product, procedure or composition of matter. You may obtain a patent or federal trademark by fulfilling all the requirements of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  For more information, contact:

State trademarks, servicemarks and tradenames can be obtained through:

  • The Secretary of State Business Services
    Trademark Division
    Room 328 Howlett Office Building
    Springfield, Illinois 62756
    217-524-0400

A copyright is a form of protection provided to an author of original works including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, sound recordings and certain other intellectual works.