Legal Definitions - branding

Branding refers to the act of permanently marking an item, animal, or, historically, a person, with a distinctive symbol, sign, or identifier. The primary purpose of such a mark is typically to establish ownership, prove authenticity, or signify a particular status or origin.

• Example 1: Identifying valuable property.

  A museum permanently engraves a unique accession number onto the back of each artwork in its collection.

  This engraving acts as a brand, providing an indelible mark that identifies the artwork as belonging to the museum and helps track its provenance and history.

• Example 2: Animal identification.

  A wildlife conservation organization applies a small, non-harmful, and permanent tattoo to the ear of endangered animals before releasing them back into the wild.

  This tattoo serves as a brand, allowing researchers to identify individual animals for monitoring, tracking migration patterns, and ensuring their protection.

• Example 3: Authentication of goods.

  A luxury watch manufacturer engraves a unique serial number and its company logo onto the casing of every watch it produces.

  This engraving is a form of branding, serving as a permanent mark that authenticates the watch as an original product from that manufacturer and helps distinguish it from counterfeits.