| One of the most important questions a business | | | | States, then you must register and trademark a |
| owner can ask is, "should I trademark a name?" | | | | name at the federal level. And, if you do it all by |
| Successful business owners are justifiably proud of | | | | yourself, there's a lengthy process you will have to |
| their company's name. They've often worked long, | | | | go through. |
| hard hours and spent a lot of money in order to | | | | If you want to trademark a name, most legal |
| brand their company's name, slogan and logo. And | | | | representatives recommend that before you attempt |
| now they use them on all their products and signage, | | | | to register and trademark it you should conduct a |
| and in their advertising and publicity pieces. | | | | thorough search to make sure that no other similar |
| And they sometimes lose sleep wondering if | | | | trademarks exist. |
| someone can come in and steal everything they've | | | | Registering a trademark can be both an expensive |
| done right out from under them. | | | | and rather intimidating experience, particularly if you |
| If you want to protect your company's name, slogan | | | | attempt to do it by yourself, or even with the help |
| and logo from being stolen and used by someone | | | | of an attorney. |
| else you can get that protection when you | | | | A full offline search by a professional search firm that |
| trademark a name. If you choose not to trademark a | | | | includes an attorney's opinion about your eligibility of |
| name you risk having all the time, money and energy | | | | registration and any potential for infringement could |
| you've spent growing your business taken away | | | | cost approximately $1,000 (before government fees). |
| from you. | | | | And with paperwork going back and forth it's also |
| A trademark is a symbol, phrase, word, or logo that | | | | very time-consuming. |
| can identify and distinguish you from any other | | | | However, once the process is complete and you |
| person or company. | | | | own your trademark, it must be renewed every 10 |
| For example, Nike's "swoosh" logo is a trademark. | | | | years. |
| Only they can use it. Another well known example is | | | | Luckily for business owners who want to save time |
| the red tab that's attached to the left rear pocket of | | | | and money there are online companies such as that |
| every pair of Levi Strauss jeans. And because Levi | | | | make the process really simple. And their costs are |
| Strauss jeans trademarked it many years ago, no | | | | substantially lower than having it done offline. |
| one else can use it. | | | | Such companies can do everything for you from the |
| Now, if you're the first to use a name, slogan, or | | | | beginning through the end. They can review your |
| logo, you automatically have trademark rights in the | | | | information, do a trademark search, and submit |
| geographic area where you operate. If anybody tries | | | | everything for registration to the United States |
| to infringe upon your territory by using or imitating | | | | Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). |
| your name, slogan, or logo, you have the right to | | | | Because everything is done completely online you will |
| sue. | | | | save a lot of time by not having to send your paper |
| However, if you want to protect your trademark | | | | work through the Post Office and then wait for it to |
| rights in a broader area, throughout the entire United | | | | come back in order to continue the process. |