A trademark watch service (aka trademark monitoring service) is a proactive monitoring service that helps protect a company's trademark rights. It involves regularly monitoring trademark databases and other sources to identify any new trademark applications or registrations that may be similar or potentially infringing on your existing registered trademarks. The watch service … [Read more...]
Trademarks
Trademarks and service marks are words and designs that function to identify and distinguish the source of the goods and services of one party from those of others. Consumers use trademarks to identify products and services.
Browse related articles below.
What is a service mark?
A service mark is a word, phrase, symbol, or design that identifies and distinguishes the source of services of one party from those of another. In contrast, a trademark refers to a mark that identifies the goods and services of one party from those of another. The distinction between a service mark and a trademark is one of convenience and has no legal significance. The … [Read more...]
How to craft a goods and services description for trademark application?
When preparing a U.S. trademark application, one of the most critical steps is drafting the identification of goods and services. This portion of your application not only determines the scope of your trademark rights but also impacts the application’s cost and the likelihood of approval. Mistakes here can lead to delays, rejections, or worse — a potentially invalid trademark … [Read more...]
Trademarks: Standard Character Mark versus Design Mark
A trademark application can be sought to protect the standard character mark or the design elements of the trademark. In general, you ought to seek trademark protection for the standard character mark first before you seek protection for the design elements of your trademark (i.e., design mark). What is a design mark? A design mark refers to the design elements of your … [Read more...]
How to conduct a trademark search?
After you pick your trademark to use in your business, you should conduct a trademark search. The trademark search tries to find other marks that are similar to the mark you plan on using. Why should you conduct a trademark search? Failure to conduct a trademark search could cost you tens of thousands of dollars. If you've already committed to your mark, you would have … [Read more...]
What is a trademark?
You've likely seen it before. A word or logo with a TM symbol or circle R. Well, that's a trademark, a type of intellectual property. And you're about to learn about how you can use them to achieve your business goals. So read on!A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, or design that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods or services of one party from those of … [Read more...]
How to expedite your trademark registration?
To protect your trademark, you have to file a trademark application with the USPTO. The trademark application can be expedited by filing a petition to make special. By filing the petition to make special, your trademark application is examined out of turn. Your trademark application will be examined about 2 to 4 months after it is filed. How much time do you save by … [Read more...]
Trademark registration on the supplemental register: Pros and Cons
This article discusses the pros and cons of registering your trademark on the supplemental register compared to the principal register. Trademarks that can be recognized immediately as a trademark may be registered on the principal register. However, trademark protection is not immediately available for marks that are considered to be descriptive because they aren't … [Read more...]