Trademark law in the United States is governed by the Trademark Act of 1946 or the Lanham Act, which codified much of the existing common law on trademarks.  According to the Lanham Act, trademarks include words, names, symbols, and logos that businesses use or intend to use in commerce for the purpose of distinguishing their goods from those of their competitors.  Right to a particular trademark depends on the distinctiveness of the proposed mark.  The rules covering trademarks vary in the different states of the United States.