The American Physical Society has secured its brand identity through U.S. trademark registration, extending beyond its publications to encompass core visual elements. Specifically, the journal’s name is now a registered trademark, signaling a legal strategy to protect it; alongside this, the APS Physics logo and the Physics logo itself are also registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This effort demonstrates a commitment to safeguarding not just the journal title, but also the visual branding associated with the society’s physics outreach. Detailed information regarding these registrations is publicly available here, offering a level of transparency often absent in such filings.
Access to research published in Physical Review Applied requires verified credentials, a system designed to manage subscriptions and institutional access rights. Readers can log in through their affiliated institutions utilizing Shibboleth or OpenAthens protocols, or directly with a personal subscription linked to their American Physical Society membership. Beginning August 1, APS member subscribers will transition to logging in with member credentials rather than an APS Journal Account. This effort extends beyond safeguarding publications to encompass core visual identifiers used across the Society’s platforms. Researchers, reviewers, librarians, and students all connect to the journal through these established access pathways, ensuring authorized readership of peer-reviewed physics research; the online ISSN further identifies the publication for indexing and discoverability.
Beyond its widely recognized publications, the American Physical Society has established legal protections for key branding elements, including registration of its name as a trademark within the United States. This proactive approach extends to visual identity as well. The APS Physics logo, alongside the simpler Physics logo, are both registered trademarks, demonstrating a comprehensive strategy to safeguard the Society’s brand beyond individual journal titles. This commitment to brand security allows the American Physical Society to maintain control over its identity in a competitive landscape, preventing unauthorized use of established marks. The online ISSN for Physical Review Applied is also publicly listed, further solidifying its established presence within scientific literature.
