Trademark Attorney for Alexandria, Virginia
A lot of people ask us, ‘Why do I need a trademark for my business?’ And the simple answer to that is your businesses name, logo, and branding are inherently valuable. You want to ensure that you’ve protected your business as your brand’s value grows and continues to appreciate over time. For example, if you’re in Alexandria, or driving on Interstate 395, you’ve probably seen tons of billboards for corporations and mom-and-pop shops alike. And they’ve all got a certain feel to them, their branding. And that branding is valuable. You want to make sure that if you start a shop in Bowie, that somebody two states over isn’t going to steal your idea and name and do the same business.
Understanding Trademarks
Trademark law protects you from competition with the same mark. If someone registers “Happy Days” for nursery school, the toy store can’t use the mark because it is being used.
If you want to use a registered trademark in your marketing strategy, you need to obtain exclusive rights and prevent others from using it. We suggest registering with the United States Patent and Trademark Office so that your brand is recognized by entire US market, as well as all related goods and services. This can be done for the trademark of international classes for specific country or region.
Learn the Benefits of a Federal U.S. Trademark
Trademarking a product, such as a logo, is important to identify goods and services that come from a specific company. Trademarks are used in the same way someone might use a logo to identify their products with the added protection of being able to file suit against others using their trademark without consent.
A federal trademark registration is important because it provides you with a greater legal defense against infringers and the ability to file in more national venues. For example, you can use Copymatic to acquire federal and state trademark registrations quickly since there’s no need for legal assistance
If you want to make sure users of marks are aware of yours- the USPTO Principal Register helps establish constructive notice.
Learn how to trademark your product and why you should avoid DIY!
If you want to make sure your trademark is legally protected, hire a trademark attorney. The process of trademark registration can be complicated, so hiring an attorney will help guide you through the process. An attorney will file for the trademark for you and conduct an extensive search to make sure no other trademarks have the same name.
We always recommend that our clients get advice from professional legal counsel when they are thinking about trademarking their company’s name. However, there are many services online that provide everything you need to trademark your own brand without any assistance from an experienced lawyer.
If you’re worried about trademarking your product or business, contact our office and we can advise you on how best to apply. There are cases where the registration of a trademark is inadvisable. When two companies have the same name and try to register a trademark, the process becomes complicated.
Are you confused about the difference between US Trademark and US Copyright?
Trademarking protects a company’s identity and ensures customers know who they’re dealing with. This can be an issue if it infringes on the trademarks of other companies, but should mainly be used for advertising purposes.
Copyright law protects your work and gives you ownership over it, but it can be easy to confuse this with a trademark. You’ll want to make sure you know the difference so that your intellectual property rights are fully protected.