How to Protect Your Trademark

When thinking about launching a new business, brand, or product line here are some tips to make sure you secure the rights to your trademark before you spend your time and effort building your brand.

1. Clearance Report: Once you have selected the trademark you would like to use always have a research report performed to make sure that the trademark you want to use is available. A properly performed research report will clear use of your trademark or let you know if someone else already has rights in the same thus requiring you to select a different trademark. The time to find out if your trademark is available is before you begin use of the same, not after you have already spent money and effort in developing the brand only to learn you must now cease use of the trademark due to another’s earlier use of a similar mark.

2. Register Your Trademark: Once your trademark has been cleared apply to register the same with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. A registered trademark enjoys many statutory benefits that help its owner in the enforcement of the same.

3. Enforce Against Infringement: Once you own your trademark it is your most important nosiness asset. Protect it. Think about it, if someone tried to steal your work computer wouldn’t you try to stop them? Why should it be any different when someone tries to steal the good will your brand has developed? That is your trademark, your good will. Don’t let others wrongfully trade on your goods and service’s good name. Once you own your trademark you must be prepared to enforce it against those who would infringe upon you.

The Trademark Company