Why we think you’re nuts if you haven’t registered your trademark yet …
You’ve spent countless hours and dollars coming up with the perfect business name and logo and made it an integral part of your business. You’ve spent countless hours on social media, LinkedIn® and Facebook® making sure your name and brand are “out there” and it’s the first thing your customers or clients see and think of when they think of you. So, what have you done to protect it?
There are few business assets that not only create immediate value but also grow in value with use, trademarks are both valuable immediately and grow in value the more you use them. The value of your brand expands and improves as your business does. You use your trademarks and brands in marketing, on product packaging, and when dealing with customers. Customers associate your trademarks with every part of your business and confusing it with another company can be fatal. If a business ever hopes to expand, sell, merge, or raise funding, a registered trademark is a must. So, what have you done to protect it?
Simply stated, and if you think about Coke,® your trademark might be your most valuable asset, it is theirs! As often as not however, many businesses overlook the fairly inexpensive and simple process of protecting their intellectual property. Logos, business names, and slogans should be protected nationally by filing a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Your brand is your livelihood, what have you done to protect it?
To help you understand the importance, we’ve listed many reasons why you need to register your trademarks. A trademark registration:
- creates an immediate value for your company
- builds and protects your reputation
- prevents huge financial waste (clearing a name or logo first saves you money in the long run)
- provides protection against another company registering a “confusingly similar” mark
- provides protection from others profiting from your mark • ensures that your reputation isn’t tarnished due to second-rate products or service provided by a competitor
- provides nationwide notice to the public of ownership of your mark
- serves as evidence of the mark’s’ validity and exclusivity of ownership (which stops others from using your mark)
- serves as a marketing tool and brand recognition as a clear and exclusive label for your business’ products and services
- protects your domain name
- allows your business to effectively utilize the Internet and social media
- provides exclusive legal ownership in specific marketplaces and channels of trade
- creates a legal presumption that you are the owner of the mark and the mark is valid which saves money in a litigation
- allows you to recover additional remedies such as attorney fees in a trademark infringement case
- lasts forever
- is cost effective, especially with the McHattie Law Firm
Why we think you’re nuts if you’re not using the McHattie Law Firm for trademark services:
- Trademarks are our life
- We have 30 plus years dealing with the trademark process
- We have successfully registered hundreds and hundreds of trademarks
- We’re honest and straightforward about your situation
- We handle every trademark with care, we’re not an automated system
- We have a great track record
- We refuse to nickel and dime you, we give you a fair fee for high quality services
- We won’t work with you unless we are sure we can help!
A registered trademark helps you protect your hard work of building a strong brand. If you find yourself wondering whether or not to trademark your business name (or any other aspect), we hope the benefits are clear by now. The minimal costs of the trademark process greatly outweigh the potential costs of litigation or being forced to change a name or brand at any time, particularly after it has developed a reputation and goodwill in the relevant market.
The McHattie Law Firm has extensive experience and expertise with the law governing the creation, protection and infringement of trademarks. We’re looking forward to helping you protect your intellectual property.
This blog is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and may not be relied upon as such. If you face a legal issue, you should consult a qualified attorney for independent legal advice with regard to your particular set of facts. This blog may constitute attorney advertising. This blog is not intended to communicate with anyone in a state or other jurisdiction where such a blog may fail to comply with all laws and ethical rules of that state of jurisdiction.