Editing Wordmark

{{Short description|Distinct text-only typographic}}
{{For|the computer hardware term|Word mark (computer hardware)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Sidebar
| name                 = Examples
| title                = Wordmark Examples
| navbar               = none
| class                = sidebar-example
| content1 = <big>APPLE</big>
| content2 = <big>COCA-COLA</big>
| content3 = <big>DISNEY</big>
| content4 = <big>FEDEX</big>
| content5 = <big>GOOGLE</big>
| content6 = <big>IBM</big>
| content7 = <big>IPHONE</big>
| content8 = <big>MICROSOFT</big>
| content9 = <big>KITKAT</big>
| content10 = <big>ESPN</big>
| belowstyle = font-weight:normal;text-align:left
| below = Note: Trademarked wordmarks are generally not case-sensitive and are listed in uppercase by trademark registrars.<ref>{{cite web |title=Are Trademarks Case-Sensitive? |url=https://tmkings.com/are-trademarks-case-sensitive/ |website=TM Kings |access-date=February 8, 2025}}</ref><ref name="USPTO_StandardCharacters">[https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/standard-character-set Standard Character Set] - United States Patent and Trademark Office</ref>
}}

A '''wordmark''' or '''word mark''' is a text-only statement of the name of a product, service, company, organization, or institution which is used for purposes of identification and branding. A wordmark can be an actual word (e.g., Apple), a made-up term that reads like a word (e.g., iPhone), or an acronym, initialism, or series of letters (e.g., IBM).  In some jurisdictions a wordmark may be [[trademark]]ed, giving it legal distinction, and potentially additional protection of any artistic presentation.

== Comparison with logos ==
===Brands & Companies===
[[File:Coca-Cola logo.svg|thumb|Coca-Cola's logo features both a distinctive text composition and distinctive graphic design.]]

Wordmarks and logos are the two most common types of brand marks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Types of logos: famous lettermarks, wordmarks and pictorial marks |url=https://www.jessicajonesdesign.com/types-of-logos/ |website=Jessica Jones Design |access-date=February 8, 2025}}</ref> Either may be trademarked. Wordmarks, by definition, always contain the name of the product or company, such as Disney, Simoniz, and FedEx, whereas a logo, such as Coca-Cola's, may be both, or, as in Nike, Shell Oil, and Starbucks, a textless image.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wordmark Logo Design: A Beginners Guide (With Examples) |url=https://looka.com/blog/wordmark-logo-design/ |website=Looka |access-date=February 8, 2025}}</ref>

A wordmark logo (also called a lettermark or a lettermark logo) is a type of logo, not a type of wordmark, which consists of just text set in a particular style, such as a typeface or color, without other graphical features.<ref>{{cite web |title=Understanding Text-based Logos (Wordmarks): Definition, Uses, Pros, and Cons |url=https://designofly.com/2024/08/30/understanding-text-based-logos-wordmarks-definition-uses-pros-and-cons/ |website=Designofly |access-date=February 8, 2025}}</ref> For example, the SONY logo contains only the name in uppercase, set in a particular typeface.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wordmark logos 101: Why and when to use them |url=https://dribbble.com/stories/2019/10/01/wordmark-logos-101-why-and-when-to-use-them |website=Dribbble |access-date=February 8, 2025}}</ref> In some cases, such as Disney's logo, a custom or proprietary typeface is used.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wordmark Logo Design: Top Tips & Examples |url=https://rabbitlogo.com/wordmark-logo-design-top-tips-examples/ |website=Rabbit |access-date=February 8, 2025}}</ref>

=== Cities ===
[[File:Kilgore Wordmark black.jpg|thumb|[[Kilgore, Texas|Kilgore]] city's [[wordmark]] showing all cities alike benefit from Branding<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kotler |first1=Philip |last2=Haider |first2=Donald |last3=Rein |first3=Irvin J. |year=1993 |title=Marketing Places: Attracting Investment, Industry and Tourism to Cities, States, and Nations |publisher=Free Press |location=New York}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/petesaunders1/2018/03/21/the-value-of-city-branding/ | title=The Value Of City Branding | last=Saunders | first=Pete | date=March 21, 2018 | website=Forbes | access-date=2025-02-11}}</ref>]]
Word marks can function effectively as identifiers for cities, similar to their use for brands and companies. A unique typographic representation of a city’s name can help establish its identity and foster community pride. Such word marks can reflect a city’s character, culture, and history, making it more recognizable to residents and visitors. They can be utilized in various contexts, such as on signage, promotional materials, or public spaces, contributing to a cohesive urban identity. Overall, word marks for cities provide a straightforward way to enhance visibility and create a sense of place without overtly promoting a specific agenda.<ref name="PlaceBranding2016">{{cite journal |last1=Kladou |first1=Stella |last2=Kavaratzis |first2=Mihalis |last3=Rigopoulou |first3=Irini |last4=Salonika |first4=Eleftheria |title=The role of brand elements in destination branding |journal=Journal of Destination Marketing & Management |date=2017 |volume=6 |issue=4 |pages=426–435 |doi=10.1016/j.jdmm.2016.06.011}}</ref>

== Trademarking ==
{{original research|section|date=January 2025}}
{{uncited section|date=January 2025}}
In many [[jurisdiction]]s, such as the [[United States]] and [[European Union]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://oami.europa.eu/ohimportal/en/trade-mark-definition|title=Trade mark definition|publisher=Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market|access-date=2015-03-10|archive-date=2015-03-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329062320/https://oami.europa.eu/ohimportal/en/trade-mark-definition|url-status=dead}}</ref> a qualifying wordmark may be registered as a [[trademark]], making it a protected [[intellectual property]].<ref name="NWST">{{cite web|url=https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/trademark-service/word-mark-vs-design-mark|title=Word Mark vs. Design Mark|last=Harris|first=Daren|date=May 26, 2023|work=Northwest Registered Agent}}</ref>

Unlike names and [[logo]]s, trademarked wordmarks are generally not case-sensitive{{cn|date=August 2024}} and are listed in uppercase by trademark registrars such as the [[United States Patent and Trademark Office]],{{cn|date=August 2024}} even if they are always cased in a certain way by the owner; this gives the trademark holder rights no matter how the wordmark is presented.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}} Some examples are shown in the sidebar.

In the United States, {{clarification needed span|text=the legal term "word mark"|reason=What "legal term" "word mark"? By what standing?  In what jurisdiction?  As what?  *Trademark* has legal standing.|date=August 2024}} refers only to the text, not to any graphical representation.<ref name="NWST"/>

==Copyrighting==
In most cases, wordmarks cannot be copyrighted, as they do not reach the [[threshold of originality]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fiveminutelaw.com/2021/04/12/the-originality-requirement-in-copyright-law|title=The originality requirement in copyright law|last=Wolfe|first=Zach|date=April 12, 2021|work=Five Minute Law}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Slogan]]
*[[Place Branding]]
*[[Logo]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Wheeler, Alina. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=HMSotQEACAAJ Designing Brand Identity: A Complete Guide to Creating, Building, and Maintaining Strong Brands.]'' Wiley: 2006. {{ISBN|978-0-471-74684-3}}.

{{Trademark law|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Brand management]]
[[Category:Promotion and marketing communications]]
[[Category:Typography]]
[[Category:Intellectual property law]]