Whether you are just starting a small business or you run a larger corporation, you know the importance of making sure your brand is circulated throughout the community. Many people use marks to market their brand name, symbol, catch phrase or logo. If marketed properly, people will know your brand or produce just by looking at the mark. Once you have your mark established, you want to protect it from other companys’ that may try to use it.
One way to help ensure your mark does not get used by other companies is to register it with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. It is up to you to monitor the use of your mark through the trademark database. If another company uses your trademark, and it is registered with the USPTO, you are able to file for trademark infringement and take legal action toward the party that used it.
Once you have a registered trademark, it is important to use the designated sign that accompanies the trademark. For instance, if your trademark is federally registered, it should have an Ⓡ behind it. If the trademark is not registered with the USPTO, it is considered a common-law trademark and is given a ™. By using the marks with the trademark signs, you are showing others that this mark is used to identify your product and brand.
If customers are tricked into purchasing another product or using another brand because their mark looks similar to yours, it can be considered an infringement. By having your trademark registered, you can easily take legal action against the party committing the infringement.