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the call for a special symposium on 'the Brand and Its History' has led to two journal issues that focus on trademarks and brands, respectively. this issue is devoted to trademarks, the more concrete, well-documented, and measurable aspect of brands. this editorial introduces trademark studies; summarises previous contributions from economic, legal, business, and historical literature; provides a short overview of the topics and findings of the seven articles included in this issue; and reflects on further research.

In spite of important recent work on the history of technology and the dynamics of technological change in Latin America, the literature in this field remains relatively undeveloped. In part, this is due to a relative scarcity of available sources for conducting research. This research note argues that national patent records are an important and untapped source for a wide range of studies on technology and technological change. The research note announces the creation of major new comprehensive databases of patent records in several Latin American countries, part of a larger, ongoing project to compile and make publically accessible patent records across the region. We also provide an introduction to the history of patents in Latin America, followed by a discussion of both the use (and misuse) of patents as historical evidence and recent advances in collecting and using patent evidence in Latin America.A pesar de valiosos trabajos sobre la historia de la tecnología y las dinámicas del cambio tecnológico en América Latina, no se puede afirmar que exista una extensa historiografía sobre el asunto. En parte, esto se debe a la escasez relativa de fuentes de investigación. Este artículo sostiene, precisamente, que los registros nacionales de patentes han sido muy poco explotados y pueden constituir una importante fuente para una amplia gama de estudios sobre la tecnología y el cambio tecnológico. En concreto, se anuncia la creación de nuevas y exhaustivas bases de datos históricas de patentes en varios países de América Latina, como parte de un proyecto en curso, de mayor envergadura, que pretende compilar y hacer accesible al público los registros de toda la región. Se aporta, en suma, una introducción sobre la historia de las patentes en América Latina, seguida de un análisis de las ventajas e inconvenientes de su uso como evidencia histórica, así como de los últimos avances en su recopilación.

Trademarks have traditionally been viewed as assets that, although intangible, nevertheless contribute to the success of firms. This study, based on a compilation of national trademark data, corrects existing distortions of the historical role of brands and their—often unsuccessful—use as business tools by countries, sectors, or firms. Legislation on, and the profuse use of, trademarks in the Western world was pioneered by Spain, rather than by France, the United States, or the United Kingdom, and was initiated in unusual sectors, such as papermaking and textiles, rather than in the more usual ones of food and beverages. Analysis of the applicants of Catalan trademarks, across sectors, during almost a century, reveals that the legal possession of a brand cannot in itself guarantee a firm's success.