AsÌýaÌýbusiness owner, your name andÌýtheÌýassociations with your brand are some ofÌýtheÌýmost critical components ofÌýyour company.
Trademarks exist toÌýprotect theÌýintegrity andÌývalue ofÌýyour business name andÌýtheÌýsymbols you’ve chosen toÌýrepresent it. Your company name andÌýlogo become vital toÌýyour business asÌýaÌýwhole, its reputation, andÌýtheÌýcustomer loyalty you’ve worked soÌýhard toÌýbuild.
What isÌýaÌýTrademark?
It’s important first toÌýunderstand exactly what aÌýtrademark isÌýandÌýhow itÌýcan benefit your business. Officially, aÌý “word, phrase, design, orÌýaÌýcombination that identifies your goods andÌýservices, distinguishes them from others, andÌýindicates theÌýsource ofÌýyour goods orÌýservices.” AÌýtrademark can beÌýyour business name, logo, symbol, orÌýother design that represents your company.
The United States Patent andÌýTrademark Office () grants federal protection byÌýpreventing other individuals from registering trademarks without your permission.
Registering your brand orÌýstorefront asÌýaÌýtrademark isÌýnot required byÌýlaw. However, doing soÌýcan protect you from others misusing your brand orÌýcreating aÌýsimilar version that consumers can not tell theÌýdifference.
AsÌýaÌýbusiness owner, you spend hours perfecting your logo andÌýbusiness name, making itÌýsomething creative andÌýmemorable that you’re proud of. How would you feel ifÌýaÌýrandom competitor with anÌýalmost identical business name orÌýlogo entered theÌýmarket? ItÌýcould cause lasting damage toÌýyour brand, your credibility, andÌýtheÌýtrust andÌýloyalty you’ve worked soÌýhard toÌýbuild with your customer base.
Without aÌýregistered trademark, you can’t doÌýmuch legally toÌýprevent this from happening. Now that you know theÌýramifications ofÌýnot registering aÌýtrademark, let’s get into theÌýdetails ofÌýhow toÌýtrademark aÌýname andÌýlogo forÌýaÌýbusiness.
How toÌýTrademark aÌýBusiness Name andÌýLogo
WeÌýwant toÌýprepare youÌý— ifÌýyou expect this process toÌýbeÌýquick andÌýeasy, you may beÌýdisappointed. Registering aÌýtrademark takes some time toÌýcomplete, but trust usÌýwhen weÌýsay it’s completely worth itÌýforÌýyour business’s longevity andÌýlegal protection. Here’s what you need toÌýdo.
1.ÌýClear theÌýname you want toÌýtrademark.
Using USPTO’s Electronic Trademark Search System, confirm theÌýname orÌýdesign you want toÌýtrademark isÌýavailable within theÌýfederal database. Ensuring noÌýone else uses your company’s logo will save you aÌýlot ofÌýtime andÌýenergy.
You can perform this step, but many businesses hire aÌýtrademark lawyer toÌýdoÌýtheÌýwork forÌýthem. Trademark law can get tricky; ifÌýyou can afford it, it’s best toÌýhave aÌýprofessional inÌýyour corner.
2.ÌýFill out theÌýtrademark application.
Once you’ve determined theÌýname andÌýlogo you’ll beÌýregistering, it’s time toÌýapply! There are quite aÌýfew steps toÌýtheÌýapplication process, andÌýsome ofÌýtheÌýinformation you’ll need toÌýaddress includes theÌýfollowing:
- Your name andÌýaddress
- AÌýdrawing ofÌýyour logo design orÌýtheÌýname
- AÌýlist ofÌýservices andÌýproducts provided byÌýtheÌýlogo/ name
- The class ofÌýservices provided
- The date your logo orÌýdesign was first used
- AnÌýexample ofÌýtheÌýsymbol used inÌýaÌýrelevant,
real-life setting
Keep inÌýmind that ifÌýyou are registering aÌýbusiness name andÌýaÌýlogo, these are two separate applications.
3.ÌýFile your trademark application.
When filing your trademark application, you have two
The isÌýtheÌýcheaper ofÌýtheÌýtwo; atÌý$250, itÌýinvolves more requirements than theÌýStandard. TEAS Plus isÌýgenerally used forÌýApplicants who can use anÌý listing inÌýtheir trademark application ifÌýtheÌýlisting accurately reflects what they’re offering within their trademark.
The costs $350Ìýbut isÌýaÌýmore streamlined process andÌýtypically sees fewer rejections than theÌýPlus option. The Standard option isÌýtheÌýbest choice forÌýapplicants who don’t want toÌýuse entries from theÌýTrademark ±õ¶ÙÌý²Ñ²¹²Ô³Ü²¹±ô because they don’t accurately describe your goods orÌýservices.
Whichever route you choose, your trademark application will beÌýsubmitted toÌýaÌýtrademark attorney forÌýreview. When it’s all said andÌýdone, most trademarks are registered within . You will receive aÌýtracking number with your application soÌýyou can keep anÌýeye onÌýyour paperwork andÌýknow what stage it’s atÌýinÌýtheÌýprocess.
Trademark FAQs
Get all your burning trademark registration questions answered here!
Where doÌýIÌýregister aÌýtrademark?
IfÌýyou’re wondering where toÌýtrademark aÌýname andÌýlogo, that’s one pretty straightforward answer! All trademark applications are submitted through theÌýUnited States Patent andÌýTrademark Office ().
How much isÌýtoÌýtrademark aÌýname andÌýlogo?
There are quite aÌýfew costs andÌýfees associated with registering aÌýtrademark. The application fee depends onÌýwhich filing option you select andÌýtheÌýnumber ofÌýclasses ofÌýgoods/ services per application.
IfÌýyou opt toÌýhire aÌýtrademark lawyer, they will also charge aÌýfee. Depending onÌýhow you intend toÌýuse theÌýtrademark, particularly inÌýcommerce andÌýforeign trademark scenarios, there may beÌýadditional fees throughout theÌýapplication process.
Lastly, once your trademark isÌýregistered, you must pay occasional maintenance fees. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth it!
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Let’s face itÌý
WeÌýunderstand theÌýstress ofÌýthese arduous tasks, soÌýweÌýprovide helpful resources andÌýtools forÌýbusiness owners onÌýtheÌýºÚÁÏÃÅ blog. From trademarks toÌýcontent marketing, graphic design, andÌýshipping logistics, we’re sharing our business knowledge with companies all over theÌýglobe. Plus, ifÌýyou need anÌýecommerce site upÌýandÌýrunning quickly, weÌýcan help with that, too.
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