If you are an entrepreneur or business owner with a trademark, then this article is for you. It contains the basics of how to protect your trademarks and what steps should be taken if others infringe on them.
The following blog post will break down some basic information about trademark law. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll have a better idea of where you need help understanding it, and getting ready to arm, protect & defend your brand, with a Houston trademark lawyer at your side.
Introduction to Trademarks:
A trademark is a word, phrase or symbol that identifies the source of goods and services. A company can have many trademarks in order to distinguish their brand from competing brands.
Other types of intellectual property include copyrights which cover creative content (books, music & software), as well patents, which apply to inventions with unique features and improvements on existing products.
In order to be protected and effectively enforceable, you should file a trademark registration application with the U.S Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
How do trademarks protect you?
Trademarks are a way for businesses to differentiate themselves in the marketplace. By registering your trademark, you can protect it from use by others as well as be sure that its validity has been checked and confirmed with the USPTO.
The benefits of trademark registration include:
-having the rights to your trademark
-preventing others from using a similar mark (i.e., if you’re facing legal trouble later on from competitors trying to infringe on your trademarks)
-being legally able to bring lawsuits for infringement against other business owners who are infringing upon their ownership, and enjoy all the advantages that come with owning an officially registered company name or slogan
Registering your trademark can lead to many legal and financial benefits, including the right to use it. This means that unauthorized parties cannot without risking an infringement lawsuit brought by you or your company; this is especially helpful if there are any future struggles with competitors infringing on your intellectual property rights. And while trademark registration will cost money, those expenses will likely be offset later down the line when considering all of its newly acquired advantages!
How do I register trademarks internationally?
If you want to protect your trademark rights in the United States and worldwide, we’ll refer you to the World Intellectual Property Organization.
How can someone else use my trademark?
When you have rights to a trademark, the only way someone else can legally use it is if they have your written permission, or are given an agreement not to assert their rights. A popular option for those who want to monetize others’ usage of their trademark is through licensing agreements. Licenses allow third parties access to use your trademark, so you can generate revenue from their usage of it, potentially opening up new avenues for your business (i.e. the other party may tap into revenue streams you may not be an expert at, but they are).
Okay, I’m ready. How do I go about all this?
Many entrepreneurs are scratching their head over this same question daily. Not to worry – a free consultation with a Trademark Lawyer Houston will sort it all out.
