The Benefits of Trademark Protection
When building your business, one of the most important assets you have is the brand itself. Whether it’s the name of your company, a slogan or a logo, finding distinct ways to represent your company will help build consumer awareness, enabling your business to grow. Filing a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) offers significant benefits for protecting and growing your brand.
- Exclusive U.S. Rights: When you file for a trademark, you will be granted exclusive rights to use the trademark in connection with your goods or services across the U.S., regardless of where you’re physically located. Additionally, it helps prevent others from using a confusingly similar name or logo.
- Stop Copycats: Once you file with the USPTO, your mark becomes publicly searchable in the USPTO database. This deters others from adopting a similar name or logo because they can see it’s already claimed.
- Public Deterrent: Registered marks are presumed valid, and you are presumed to be the rightful owner, thereby shifting the burden of proof to the other party in legal disputes and giving you a significant advantage.
- Legal Advantage: Only federally registered trademarks can use the ® symbol, which enhances credibility and communicates legal protection. Unregistered marks can only use ™ (trademark) or ℠ (service mark), which carry less weight.
- Sue Infringers: If you feel that another party is using an identical or similar version of your mark, you can file a lawsuit in federal court to stop infringement.
- Sell It or Use It as Collateral: As trademarks are intellectual property assets, they can be sold, licensed, or used as collateral. Some entities choose to register their trademark not for the legal protection, but because it is an additional asset that they can sell, when they are looking to sell their company to a third party. A strong brand with legal protection can increase your company’s valuation and attractiveness to investors or buyers.
- Keep Your Brand Consistent: Trademark protection helps maintain brand consistency. Consumers are more likely to trust brands with protected, recognizable marks.
In summary, registering a trademark with the USPTO is a powerful step toward building a secure, reputable, and scalable brand. It’s not just a legal safeguard; it’s a strategic and valuable business asset.
Ready to secure your brand’s future? Contact Saunders Walsh & Beard today to learn more about protecting your intellectual property and unlocking the full potential of your business!
