What is the term for the legal protection of words and symbols used by a company?

The term for the legal protection of words and symbols used by a company is trademark. A trademark specifically refers to distinctive signs, logos, phrases, or designs that identify and distinguish products or services of one entity from others. This legal protection ensures that companies can secure their brand identity and prevents others from using similar identifiers that could lead to consumer confusion.

Branding, while closely related, encompasses the broader strategy and process of creating a unique identity for a company or product, including aspects of market positioning and consumer perception. Royalty typically refers to payments made to authors, composers, or inventors for the use of their intellectual property, rather than the protection of those assets. Copyright is a form of protection applicable primarily to original works of authorship, such as literature, music, and art, and does not cover the specific branding elements like words and symbols directly associated with a company's identity. Thus, trademark is the most accurate term for the context of legal protection related to company identifiers.