Examples of Trademark Needs in St. Louis, Missouri
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 St Louis, or driving on Interstate 70, 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 Clayton, that somebody two states over isn’t going to steal your idea and name and do the same business.
A great example I love to use is professional sports teams. Their need to have a protected brand name, logo, slogan, and such is invaluable because so much of their team’s value is wrapped up in their identity. There are lots of sports teams, but for fans, there’s always ‘my team’. Think about the teams near Richmond Heights and Chesterfield, like the St. Louis Blues and the St. Louis Cardinals. You can probably picture their logo in your mind, and you know that nobody else is using their names and logos to promote a professional sports team.
The Importance of Trademark Law
If someone starts using a trademark, such as ‘Happy Days,’ that is not registered, the trademark’s owner cannot stop them from using it while it is in use.
Registering a trademark prevents others from using it. Registering a mark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office protects a mark for the entire United States for an international class and related goods and services.
Key Provisions of a Trademark
Trademarks prevent others from using a trademark without consent by providing legal grounds for lawsuits. They are used in the same way as a logo, and important to keep your brand protected.
Registration on the USPTO Principal Register will notify others and notify them before they unintentionally infringe on your trademark.
Why You Should Hire a Trademark Attorney Right Now
You should hire a trademark attorney to ensure legal protection for your brand. This process can be complex and lengthy, but a trademark attorney will guide you through the process from start to finish, and help you look for potential conflicts with other trademarks.
We recommend our clients avoid applying for trademarks on their own because there are services that automate the process, as well as services that help avoid errors. It also ensures business for us.
Reaching out to our office will make sure you do it right the first time through, without having to make a mess. It might be acceptable not to apply for trademark protection if your mark is already registered.
Copyright vs. Trademark
Trademarking is used to protect a company’s identity, such as the company name or product name. Trademarks are also mainly used for advertising purposes to show the customer that this company has ownership over what they’re selling.
A copyright is a protection for an author or artist to prevent others from using their work without permission. Copyrights exist whether they’re registered or not, but additional protections come with registration. A trademark is different than a copyright so it’s important to know the difference between the two so your company’s intellectual property rights are protected.