Legal Definitions - hybrid mark

A hybrid mark is a type of trademark that combines both word elements and design elements. It's a blend of text, such as a company name, product name, or slogan, and a distinctive graphic, symbol, or image. This combination allows a business to protect both the textual and visual aspects of its brand identity under a single registration, as they are presented together to consumers.

• Example 1: A Global Coffeehouse Chain

  Consider the logo for Starbucks Coffee. This mark features the words "Starbucks Coffee" encircling a distinctive green graphic of a siren. The words themselves are a textual element, while the siren illustration is a design element. Because these two distinct types of features (words and a specific image) are combined and presented together as a single brand identifier, it functions as a hybrid mark.

• Example 2: An Athletic Apparel and Footwear Company

  Think about the brand identity of Nike. While the company often uses just its "swoosh" design or just the word "Nike" independently, their primary registered trademark often combines both. The word "Nike" (a textual element) is presented alongside the iconic "swoosh" symbol (a design element). When these two components are used together to identify their products, they form a hybrid mark, protecting the specific pairing of the name and the graphic.

• Example 3: An Online Retail and Technology Company

  Observe the logo for Amazon. The mark consists of the company name "Amazon" (a textual element) with a distinctive arrow curving from the letter 'A' to the letter 'Z' beneath it, which also resembles a smile (a design element). This specific combination of the company's name and the unique graphical arrow creates a hybrid mark, protecting the overall look and feel of the brand as presented to consumers.