trade dress

American

[treyd dres] / ˈtreɪd ˌdrɛs /

noun

the total visual image and specific design of a product or service that distinguish it from others and identify its origin or source. Trade dress is protected under trademark law and consists of elements that are not functional, as product packaging or the décor of a business.

Etymology

Origin of trade dress

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

MGA launched its OMG Fashion Dolls in 2019, allegedly “copying the unique name, image and trade dress of OMG Girlz.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 24, 2024

District Court for the Central District of California, accuses Peloton of trade dress infringement, false designation of origin and unfair competition.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 30, 2021

Peloton wants a court declaration that it has not infringed Lululemon patents and trade dress, and that Lululemon's patent claims are invalid.

From Reuters • Nov. 26, 2021

“You have the name Kisses, which is a trademark, the shape of the candy itself, which is both a trademark and trade dress, and the packaging, which is protected by copyright,” Ms. Mertzel said.

From New York Times • May 22, 2021

The jury had determined that Samsung did infringe the iPhone's "trade dress" with a number of its products.

From The Guardian • Aug. 25, 2012

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023