Nineteen in 2019:
19 Reasons to Familiarize Yourself and Your Business with the Benefits of Trademark Protection in 2018
1. Protect Your Creativity! Owners of businesses—large and small—appreciate and understand the time, money, and energy it takes to select that perfect name or create that perfect logo. But all too often, what takes you a substantial effort to create takes brand thieves and copycats mere minutes to steal. With Federal Trademark Registration, you significantly increase your chances to deter would-be thefts and seek compensation from those who steal your work.
2. Know the Landscape. It is important to make sure you obtain a clearance search before using the new name or logo you have selected for your business and products. A quick search today has the potential to save you time, money, and headaches in the future.
3. Put the World on Notice. Whether you federally register your mark or not, you need to know the rights and restrictions for putting the world on notice. For example, you can use the “™” symbol on any of your marks that are not federally registered. However, the registration symbol “®” can only be used once your trademark application is approved by the United States Patent & Trademark Office, and there are consequences if you use this symbol without a federal registration.
4. Design is Expensive. For anyone who has ever approached a graphic designer or their tech-savvy niece to help them design a logo, you know that designing a logo can be expensive! With all the time and money you will put into your logo or design, you should make sure it is protected.
5. Be Different! Avoid becoming the disgruntled business owner who faces the realization their mark has been stolen. Distinguish yourself from your competitors by getting a trademark when they fail to. Many investors see this as a sign of business sophistication.
6. Trademarks Work for You. Valuable trademarks and brand recognition may make hiring and retention easier for your business.
7. Border Patrol. Knock-off and counterfeit goods are becoming significantly more common with the prevalence of the global economy and increase in foreign manufacturing. Registered trademarks can be used as a valuable tool, which includes giving your business the ability to submit a federal registration to Customs and Border Patrol for detection and prevention of the importation of knock-off goods.
8. Don't Cost Yourself. If you don't register a trademark or determine whether a mark is available, it can cost you! Changing names is expensive and time consuming, just consider how much you spend on print, domains, marketing, and content generation associated with your marks. Plus if you have infringed someone else's name or mark you may have to give up profits or pay damages, fines, and attorneys' fees.
9. Increase Your Sale Price. Trademarks are considered an asset of your company during valuations and other deals (e.g., purchases, mergers, investments, etc.) that may grow over time. For example, trademarks can be licensed, assigned, purchased, or even used as collateral.
10. Don’t Lose Your Expansion. While common law trademark protection exists to protect your immediate area of influence, you should keep the future expansion of your business in mind. If you don’t register for a Federal trademark you may lose the right to expand your business outside the original business area.
11. Low Cost Protection. As far as intellectual property is concerned, trademarks are often the least expensive form of protection for your business.
12. Forever? Yes, Forever. Once you have obtained a federal registration for your mark, proper maintenance and continued use will result in your trademark protection lasting as long as you desire. (McDonald’s® has been successfully protecting those golden arches since the 1950s!)
13. Truly (Almost) Everywhere. From protection at the state level to the federal level, trademarks may be obtained in the United States in multiple ways. Further, the rise of the global economy is drawing business owners and entrepreneurs to an international market. International treaties and agreements exist to ease the launch of your brand, product, and service on a global scale!
13. Product Branding. Businesses often have multiple products that need individual branding under the umbrella of the larger business name or “house brand.” Use a trademark portfolio to differentiate names for each of your products or services that hold value for your company.
14. Offensive Production. A federal registration gives business owners a sense of security in knowing that when infringers are discovered, they can be dealt with through the bundle of rights afforded only to owners of a federally registered trademark.
15. Defensive Stand. A federal registration, along with a clearance search, reduces the likelihood of being accused by others of trademark infringement or illegal business practices.
16. Presumption of Ownership. Having a federal trademark registration provides notice to potential infringers of your rights in the mark that could entitle you to monetary damages resulting from the infringement.
17. Customers. Keep your customers engaged with your mark(eting). Changing your business name, logo, slogans, or taglines later may result in lost or confused customers.
18. Trademarks Can Be Cool! Many business owners appreciate the respect and recognition in the industry afforded by proper federal registration. Plus, you know you want to be able to use the registered “®”!
19 Reasons to Familiarize Yourself and Your Business with the Benefits of Trademark Protection in 2018
1. Protect Your Creativity! Owners of businesses—large and small—appreciate and understand the time, money, and energy it takes to select that perfect name or create that perfect logo. But all too often, what takes you a substantial effort to create takes brand thieves and copycats mere minutes to steal. With Federal Trademark Registration, you significantly increase your chances to deter would-be thefts and seek compensation from those who steal your work.
2. Know the Landscape. It is important to make sure you obtain a clearance search before using the new name or logo you have selected for your business and products. A quick search today has the potential to save you time, money, and headaches in the future.
3. Put the World on Notice. Whether you federally register your mark or not, you need to know the rights and restrictions for putting the world on notice. For example, you can use the “™” symbol on any of your marks that are not federally registered. However, the registration symbol “®” can only be used once your trademark application is approved by the United States Patent & Trademark Office, and there are consequences if you use this symbol without a federal registration.
4. Design is Expensive. For anyone who has ever approached a graphic designer or their tech-savvy niece to help them design a logo, you know that designing a logo can be expensive! With all the time and money you will put into your logo or design, you should make sure it is protected.
5. Be Different! Avoid becoming the disgruntled business owner who faces the realization their mark has been stolen. Distinguish yourself from your competitors by getting a trademark when they fail to. Many investors see this as a sign of business sophistication.
6. Trademarks Work for You. Valuable trademarks and brand recognition may make hiring and retention easier for your business.
7. Border Patrol. Knock-off and counterfeit goods are becoming significantly more common with the prevalence of the global economy and increase in foreign manufacturing. Registered trademarks can be used as a valuable tool, which includes giving your business the ability to submit a federal registration to Customs and Border Patrol for detection and prevention of the importation of knock-off goods.
8. Don't Cost Yourself. If you don't register a trademark or determine whether a mark is available, it can cost you! Changing names is expensive and time consuming, just consider how much you spend on print, domains, marketing, and content generation associated with your marks. Plus if you have infringed someone else's name or mark you may have to give up profits or pay damages, fines, and attorneys' fees.
9. Increase Your Sale Price. Trademarks are considered an asset of your company during valuations and other deals (e.g., purchases, mergers, investments, etc.) that may grow over time. For example, trademarks can be licensed, assigned, purchased, or even used as collateral.
10. Don’t Lose Your Expansion. While common law trademark protection exists to protect your immediate area of influence, you should keep the future expansion of your business in mind. If you don’t register for a Federal trademark you may lose the right to expand your business outside the original business area.
11. Low Cost Protection. As far as intellectual property is concerned, trademarks are often the least expensive form of protection for your business.
12. Forever? Yes, Forever. Once you have obtained a federal registration for your mark, proper maintenance and continued use will result in your trademark protection lasting as long as you desire. (McDonald’s® has been successfully protecting those golden arches since the 1950s!)
13. Truly (Almost) Everywhere. From protection at the state level to the federal level, trademarks may be obtained in the United States in multiple ways. Further, the rise of the global economy is drawing business owners and entrepreneurs to an international market. International treaties and agreements exist to ease the launch of your brand, product, and service on a global scale!
13. Product Branding. Businesses often have multiple products that need individual branding under the umbrella of the larger business name or “house brand.” Use a trademark portfolio to differentiate names for each of your products or services that hold value for your company.
14. Offensive Production. A federal registration gives business owners a sense of security in knowing that when infringers are discovered, they can be dealt with through the bundle of rights afforded only to owners of a federally registered trademark.
15. Defensive Stand. A federal registration, along with a clearance search, reduces the likelihood of being accused by others of trademark infringement or illegal business practices.
16. Presumption of Ownership. Having a federal trademark registration provides notice to potential infringers of your rights in the mark that could entitle you to monetary damages resulting from the infringement.
17. Customers. Keep your customers engaged with your mark(eting). Changing your business name, logo, slogans, or taglines later may result in lost or confused customers.
18. Trademarks Can Be Cool! Many business owners appreciate the respect and recognition in the industry afforded by proper federal registration. Plus, you know you want to be able to use the registered “®”!
