A trade mark is a unique identifier (typically a name, logo, symbol, slogan, image or a combination of these) that enables a business to easily distinguish its goods and services from those supplied by other businesses. In other words it is a "badge of origin". It is used in marketing to enable consumer recognition that goods and services of a given quality originate from a particular business.
The Trade Marks Act provides a mechanism for businesses to register their genuine trade marks and protect them from unauthorised copying, i.e. counterfeiting and other forms of brand piracy.