Did you know that the first trademarks are credited to blacksmiths who made swords in the Roman Empire? The trademark is a distinctive indicator or sign that is used by a person or organization to identify that a product or service is credited to them. It can be a name, logo, phrase, design, symbol, image or a combination of them. There are even trademarks that are based on sound, smell or color. Remember Louboutin’s red lacquered sole trademark?
Symbols To Remember
- ™ (unregistered trademark) is used to brand or promote goods.
- (unregistered service mark) is used to promote or brand services.
- ® is a registered trademark.
Why You Should Register Your Trademark
Registering a trademark is easy and beneficial to you or your organization. By registering it with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, your trademark will have increased protection. You will have exclusive rights to the mark that can be used for all goods and services offered by you or your company. Being able to use the ® symbol shows the public that you have claimed to the mark. It also means that you will be listed on the database of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This allows you the right to take legal action if anyone were to replicate your trademark and use it to brand their products or make a close duplicate of your symbol.
Reasons Why You Should Hire A Lawyer To Help You Out
You can choose to file the trademark on your own or hire a lawyer to help you through the process. While trademark registering may seem like child’s play, there are complexities to the process that can be explained best by a lawyer. There are many procedures and legal necessities that need to be taken care of. Therefore, it would be beneficial for you or your organization to procure the services of a lawyer who can take care of the details. By hiring an attorney with expertise in this department, you will secure the legitimacy of your trademark and have someone to consult with if you have any questions before, during and after the registration period.
Registering a trademark need not be a hassle, but it can be a major stress and mistakes can be made if you don’t at least turn to professional highly-efficient lawyers the first time to help you through the process. Remember that not all applications make it to the registration process. This is why it would be quite beneficial to have experts to do the work for you.