A trademark is a right to a designation that allows its owner to distinguish its products or services from those of other entrepreneurs. Its purpose is to create a unique brand identity in the market, strengthen customer confidence and protect investments in building a reputation.

In order for a trademark to be registered, it must be capable of being distinctive – that is, capable of perceptibly distinguishing products or services of a certain origin from others.

Registration of a trademark grants the owner the exclusive right to use it and to prevent others from using it without authorization.

A trademark can be not only a word or a logo, but also the shape of a product, color, sound, movement or a combination of several elements, if it meets the requirement of distinctiveness.

Legal basis: Act No. 441/2003 Coll., on trademarks (as amended).

Practical example:
If a business operates a coffee shop under the name EspressoCloud™ and registers it as a trademark, no one else may use the same or confusingly similar name for coffee, coffee shops, or similar services.