Legal Definitions - trade meaning

Definition: Trade meaning is a special sense that a trademark or tradename for a business, goods, or services has acquired even though the trademark or tradename was not originally protectable. It refers to a later meaning that has been added to the original one borne by the mark or name and that has now become in the market its usual and primary meaning.

Example: The word "Apple" originally referred to a fruit, but when it became the trademark for a technology company, it acquired a trade meaning. Now, when people hear the word "Apple," they associate it with the company's products like iPhones and MacBooks.

Explanation: The example illustrates how a word can acquire a trade meaning. Even though "Apple" was originally a common word, it became associated with a specific company and its products. This association is what makes it a trade meaning. When people hear the word "Apple," they no longer think of the fruit, but instead, they think of the company and its products.