The primary distinction between product trademarks and service trademarks:
The trademark of goods is a symbol used to distinguish the products of a manufacturer or distributor from those of others, serving the function of indicating the source of the goods and their quality and characteristics. The service trademark is a symbol used to differentiate the services provided by a service provider from those of others, serving the function of indicating the source of the services and their quality and characteristics.
(II) Goods trademarks appeared earlier, and the laws protecting goods trademarks were enacted earlier. China's first law to protect goods trademarks was the "Regulations for the Trial Implementation of Trademark Registration," issued by the Qing Government in 1904. Service trademarks appeared later, and the laws protecting service trademarks were enacted later as well. China's first law to protect service trademarks was the revised "Trademark Law" in 1993 (effective as of July 1, 1993).
Under the principle of voluntary registration, special commodities such as cigarettes are subject to mandatory registration, whereas service trademarks are all voluntary, with no mandatory registration.
(4) Goods are tangible, and the use of goods trademarks is on specific goods. Services are intangible, and the use of service trademarks is within specific services.
