Intellectual Property for Business Owners – 10 Things You Should Know
Your business has intellectual property made up of your collective ideas, innovation, and intelligence. Your intellectual property can include trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, and patents. There is no arguing the fact that intellectual property has value. A trade secret like the recipe for Coca-Cola can give a company a competitive advantage that lasts for a […]
Brand Name, Product Name, Business Name – What’s the Difference?
Did you know that a brand and business are not the same thing? The names could match, but they’re not the same thing. Did you know that a product and a brand are not the same thing? Again, the names could match, but they’re not the same thing. Are you confused? Don’t worry. You’re not […]
Trademark Scams – Don’t Pay for What You Don’t Need
In a previous blog post, I shared some tips to protect yourself from trademark scam letters, and unfortunately, the number of scammers continues to grow. That means you need to understand how these scams could affect you so you don’t spend unnecessary money or time thinking about them. The Trademark Scam Letter You filed a […]
Business Name and Trademark Confusion Can Cost Your Business Big Bucks
One of the biggest mistakes that a business can make is failing to secure the trademark for its business name. Many businesses register their business names in their states so they can start operating, and they think that’s all they have to do. Fast forward a few years and a business that makes this mistake […]
Trademark Scams are on the Rise – How to Protect Yourself
Owners of U.S. trademarks (applicants and registrants) routinely receive trademark-related solicitations by mail and/or email purporting to be official notices or advertisements from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) requesting payment of fees. These are trademark scams and you need to familiarize yourself with them so you can protect yourself from spending money unnecessarily! […]
Trademarks, Copyrights and Common Law: Possession is Only Nine-Tenths of the Law
There is a maxim that tells us, “Possession is 9/10’s of the law.” However, that doesn’t mean you can ignore the remaining 1/10. In fact, doing so when it comes to your trademarks and copyrights could cause irreparable harm to you and your business! For this concept to make sense, you need to understand how […]
When Should I File For International Trademark Protection?
Trademark rights are territorial, which means they’re granted on a country-by-country basis. There is no such thing as a “global” trademark. This means that you have to file a trademark application in each country (or region, such as the European Union, in some cases) where you seek legal protection. Where Should I File? Determining where […]
How Long Does It Take to Register a Trademark? [Infographic]
The federal trademark application and registration process isn’t quick. Take a look at the Trademark Timeline infographic below, and you’ll see that the total time from application filing to registration could vary—anywhere from seven months to two years or more! The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) processes all federal trademark applications, and according […]
Is Your Brand Name Strong Enough to Protect with a Trademark?
A trademark is one your most valuable business assets that you absolutely need to protect, but you can only get full legal protection it if it’s distinctive, not descriptive. Descriptive vs. Distinctive: An Inverse Relationship A trademark is distinctive if the meaning of the words used in the mark do not describe the products or […]
Demystifying Trademark Symbols
I get a lot of questions about using the TM, SM, ®, and © symbols. Trademark symbols can be confusing, but don’t them intimidate you. Here are four things you should know about how to use trademark symbols to protect your brand and business. 1. What the Trademark Symbols Are There are three commonly used […]