Functionality doctrine

Intellectual property law
Primary rights
Copyright · authors' rights · related rights · moral rights · patent · utility model · trademark · geographical indication · trade secret
Sui generis rights
Database right · indigenous intellectual property · industrial design right · mask work · plant breeders' rights · supplementary protection certificate
Related topics
Societal views · orphan works · public domain · more
v · d · e

In trademark law, the functionality doctrine prevents manufacturers from protecting specific features of a product by means of trademark law. This separates trademarks from patents — trademarks serve to protect a firm's reputation and goodwill, whereas patents serve to protect processes, machines, and material inventions.

If a feature gives a producer a competitive advantage which is not related entirely to its function as a brand identifier, then it cannot be trademarked. The rationale behind this doctrine is that product markets would not be truly competitive if newcomers could not make product with a feature that consumers demand.

See also

• Idea-expression divide
• Trade dress