Wordmark

A wordmark, word mark, or logotype, is usually a distinct text-only typographic treatment of the name of a company, institution, or product name used for purposes of identification and branding. Examples can be found in the graphic identities of the Government of Canada, FedEx, and Microsoft. The organization name is incorporated as a simple graphic treatment to create a clear, visually memorable identity. The representation of the word becomes a visual symbol of the organization or product.

For the computer hardware term, see Word mark (computer hardware).
The Microsoft wordmark
The Microsoft wordmark
The Government of Canada wordmark
The Government of Canada wordmark[n 1]
The FedEx wordmark
The FedEx wordmark

In the United States and European Union,[2] a wordmark may be registered, making it a protected intellectual property.

In the United States, the legal term "word mark" refers not to the graphical representation but to only the text.[3]

In most cases, wordmarks cannot be copyrighted, as they do not reach the threshold of originality.

The wordmark is one of several different types of logos, and is among the most common. It has the benefit of containing the brand name of the company (i.e. the Coca-Cola logo) as opposed to the brandmark used by, for example, Apple.

Wordmark logos are often confused with lettermark logos. Lettermark logos are made up of the initials of the brand name or business, while wordmarks contain the full name. Lettermarks are also text-only but they are shorter. Some examples of lettermark logos include: IBM, CNN, P&G, HBO, and LG logo.

See also

Notes
  1. The use of the Government of Canada's wordmark is regulated by government policy.[1]

References
  1. Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (10 May 2012). "Canada Wordmark". Federal Identity Program Policy. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  2. "Trade mark definition". Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market. Archived from the original on 2015-03-29. Retrieved 2015-03-10.
  3. "Glossary (w–x)". Guides. United States Patent and Trademark Office. 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-23.

Further reading
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Text logos.
  • McWade, John. Before and After Graphics for Business. Peachpit Press: 2005. ISBN 978-0-321-33415-2.
  • White, Alexander W. The Elements of Graphic Design: Space, Unity, Page Architecture, and Type. Allworth: 2002. ISBN 978-1-58115-250-0.
  • Wheeler, Alina. Designing Brand Identity: A Complete Guide to Creating, Building, and Maintaining Strong Brands. Wiley: 2006. ISBN 978-0-471-74684-3.
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