What type of mark is used to distinguish goods and services provided by its owner?

The concept of a mark used to distinguish goods and services provided by its owner is best represented by a trademark. A trademark serves as a source identifier, allowing consumers to recognize the origin of a good or service. It provides legal protection to the owner by preventing unauthorized use of the mark by competitors, thereby maintaining brand identity and integrity in the marketplace.

While patents protect inventions, and copyrights protect original works of authorship, neither serves the specific function of distinguishing goods or services in the way trademarks do. Trade secrets, on the other hand, refer to confidential business information that provides a competitive edge but do not involve a mark or branding. Thus, the role of a trademark is unique in its primary purpose of identifying the source of products or services, making it the correct choice in the context of the question.