A trademark or service mark is a sign which can be represented graphically to identify the products or services of a private individual or legal entity." (Art. L 711-1, par. 1 of the French Intellectual Property Code).
This legal definition lays down the scope of trademark law: the essential function of the trademark is to enable consumers to identify the origin of a product or service in its competitive environment.
The trademark is thus the indispensable asset on which a commercial development strategy is based.