Registering your trademark is an important part of securing your intellectual property. A trademark can be anything that is used to identify your unique company. Logos, names, tags, design or a combination of several of these things can all qualify as trademarks. Although it is possible to register your trademark on your own, the process can be challenging for those who have never done it before. From doing a trademark name search to wading through the swamp of legal wrangling, many trademark holders choose to hire a lawyer to do the tricky part for them. However you choose to go about the process, however, it is a good idea to understand what you are doing and what you are trying to accomplish before you begin.
What Is a Name Search?
Every trademark must be unique. After all, ensuring uniqueness is the reason that people trademark their names and logos in the first place. While the idea of a registered trademark may be to prevent your competition from intentionally stealing your ideas, intellectual property theft can also be done accidentally. In order to prevent two companies from trademarking the same name, every company should do a trademark name search before they file their application. This search will check your potential name against all others in the trademark database, ensuring that yours truly is unique.
What Happens When I Register My Trademark?
When you register your trademark, you gain the exclusive right to use it either nationwide or within your field, as specified in your initial registration. Your name will also be listed in the online databases of the United States Patent and Trademark office. This means that your name will show up if anyone else does a name search, ensuring that only you have the right to trademark the name. Once you have registered your name, logo or design, you also earn the right to use the official federal registration symbol after your name. This symbol is nationally recognized and appears as an ‘R’ within a circle. Finally, a registered trademark holder has the right to take any issues regarding their trademark to federal court.
Should I Hire an Attorney?
An attorney who specializes in trademark registration can do a thorough trademark name search which can be an invaluable asset to your business. The legal waters surrounding registration can be murky and an attorney can save you both time and money. Every application costs a fee and an improperly-filed application may be rejected. Hiring an attorney can simplify the process, ensuring that you will soon be the proud owner of a registered trademark.