Which statement best describes a service mark?

• A. A service mark identifies services rather than goods
• B. A service mark identifies goods and services equally
• C. A service mark is the same as a copyright
• D. A service mark is a government regulation on service industries

Answer: (A)

A service mark is the brand identifier used for services, not for goods. It functions much like a trademark, but its primary purpose is to indicate the source of a service and distinguish that service from the services of others. This is why the statement describing a service mark as identifying services rather than goods is the best description. It can be registered to protect the reputation of the service provider, just as trademarks protect goods.

The other ideas don’t fit: identifying both goods and services would blur the distinction between trademarks (generally for goods) and service marks; a service mark is not the same as a copyright, which protects creative works rather than brand identity; and it is not a government regulation on service industries.