Policy, Copyright & Compliance
Trademark infringement
Also called: trade mark infringement
Trademark law protects source identifiers, so the test turns on confusion rather than on copying. Naming a brand in a review, comparing products, or having a logo appear in shot is normally fine, because nobody would conclude the brand made the video. The danger sits elsewhere. Channel names, logos and thumbnail styles that mimic a company's branding get you into trouble, and so does selling merchandise carrying someone else's mark.
This is separate from copyright, which protects the work itself, and YouTube runs a distinct complaint process for trademark holders. Rules vary by country, and this is a general summary rather than legal advice.
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