As a business owner, there are many things that you have to be on top of. You have to choose a product to sell, get an accountant to take care of your finances, and make sure that you are marketing your goods or services in the best way possible. Because of this, it can be really difficult to know where to start. No matter where your business is, if you just started, or if you have been in business for years, getting a trademark is something that you should really consider getting to help your company stay protected. A trademark is something that protects your intellectual rights, so that another company within your industry cannot use your branding. At Beard St. Clair Gaffney, we want to help you keep your property. We are dedicated to helping you keep what is yours.
What is a Trademark?
A trademark is a symbol, phrase, or a word that can help distinguish your brand from another. Examples of famous trademarks would include the golden arches of McDonald’s, the apple for Apple, or even the swoosh of Nike. Trademarks are what protect these companies from their competitors using these symbols that are used to identify their brand. Trademarks as mentioned previously are only applicable in your industry. This will ensure that you are able to have unique branding and will not have to worry about your competitor using your branding methods. If you choose not to get a trademark, then it is possible for someone to use your branding, trademark it for themselves, and then press charges against you. We do not want that to happen to you, so we want to help you get your trademark so that you can keep the intellectual property that is rightfully yours.
How Long Does a Trademark Last?
Unlike a patent or a copyright, there is no expiration date for a trademark. However, that does not mean that once you get it, it will last forever. Once every ten years, you will have to prove that your trademark is still in use. If you fail to prove that your trademark is being used, once every ten years, you will lose the trademark and the rights that come with it. Although these trademarks do not expire, it is essential to remember that you prove the use of it, or else you will lose it.
What are the Different Types of Trademarks?
Because there are so many different types of companies, who offer all kinds of goods or services, there are a few different types of trademarks that can help you protect your branding, no matter what goods or services that you offer. The different types of trademarks include:
Generic Trademarks
The generic trademark is just as it sounds. It is a trademark that you can use in order to establish branding for your company. While general sayings are not allowed to be trademarked, getting a generic trademark is possible. A generic trademark has to have specific details concerning the ingredients, characteristics, or the qualities of the product or service that you are offering. This way you will be able to distinguish your company from all of the other ones, while getting a trademark that is usable.
Suggestive Mark
This type of trademark suggests what the product or service does, without coming outright and saying it. An example of this kind of mark would be Jaguar, the car. The name suggests speed but is not something that one would necessarily associate with a car company. These types of marks offer the business owner to use their creativity to create a name that implies something about the good, without having to come out and say it directly.
Fanciful Mark
The type of trademark is one that uses a completely unique name or logo for their branding. These can be extremely useful for you if you are looking for a new, unique way to brand your company. These are typically the easiest types of trademarks to obtain, because the words mean nothing in the English language, and will not have a lot of competitors.
Service Mark
A service mark is still a trademark but is used to distinguish that a company offers services. There is not really a way for the consumer to tell the difference, but if you offer services rather than products at your company, then you will get a service mark to show that your company offers services rather than goods.
Why Do I Need a Trademark Attorney?
Getting a trademark attorney as you start the process of obtaining a trademark will make your life so much easier. An attorney will know everything that needs to be on your application so that it can be submitted without errors. If there are any kind of errors on your application, it will be sent back to you to be fixed, which could greatly increase the amount of time that is needed to get the application approved. As you have an attorney you will not have to figure out what needs to be on the application. Not only will an attorney help you throughout the whole application process, but they will also help you in the case that there is a trademark violation. They will fight for you and help you keep your intellectual property.
Why Choose Us?
At Beard St. Clair, our team is experienced and qualified to help you get your trademark for your company. It is important to us to get you a trademark in a timely manner, so that you do not have to wait on errors that were made on the application. We will also fight for you to make sure that your trademark is not used by another company.
Contact Us
We know how stressful running a business can be, and we want to help you protect what is yours. If you are ready to get a trademark for your company, then give us a call. We look forward to working with you to make sure that all of your intellectual property is protected.
