Protecting your brand is an important part of running a successful business. This includes building a strong brand identity, protecting your intellectual property, and registering trademarks. Registering your company’s trademark is a legal process that's done through the United States Patent and Trademark Office. This will give your company the exclusive right to use the name or logo in business, preventing any other company from using the same name or logo.

Taking the necessary steps to protect your business’s name and logo is especially important if you are operating in Dallas. Understanding the ins and outs of trademark law, where to register your trademark, and how to proceed with the registration process is key to ensuring that your brand identity is correctly protected.

Here, we have answered some of the frequently asked questions Dallas business owners have about registering trademarks.

What Is A Trademark?

A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, or design that sets your company apart from competitors in the marketplace. A trademark should be unique and easily-identifiable with your company. It is used to identify and distinguish the goods and services provided by one company from those of its competitors.

Do I Need To Register A Trademark?

Yes. While some states may provide limited protection for an unregistered trademark, registering your trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the best way to ensure the strongest legal protection for your business's intellectual property. Registering a trademark will also give you more credibility with customers, and will give you the ability to take legal action against infringers.

What Can Be Trademarked?

Any business name, logo, phrase, domain name, slogan, design, or even a sound can be trademarked. Common examples of trademarks are the Nike swoosh, Starbucks 'green' logo, and Coca-Cola’s script font.

What Can’t Be Trademarked?

Trademark law is intended to protect business owners from competitors who try to unfairly benefit from their hard work. Obviously, names, logos, slogans, and other identifying marks should not be stolen from competing businesses.

However, there are some things that can’t be trademarked, such as generic names, generic terms, and simply descriptive words. These include words or phrases that are too descriptive of the actual product or service offered, or phrases that are merely surnames or geographical locations. Additionally, trademarks cannot be misleading, violate public policy, confuse similar marks, or be too similar to existing federal trademarks.

How Do I Register A Trademark In Dallas?

The process of registering a trademark in Dallas is relatively straightforward. Before you register, make sure your trademark is available by searching the USPTO database. It’s important that you also do a comprehensive search to make sure someone hasn’t already filed for registration for a similar trademark.

When you’ve done the research and are sure that your trademark meets all the necessary requirements, you can submit your trademark application with the USPTO. During the application process, you will need to provide documentation such as information on the goods or services the trademark will be used in, as well as proof of use of the mark.

What Should I Do If Someone Else Is Infringing On My Tradmark?

If you discover that someone is infringing on your trademark, the first step is to contact a qualified intellectual property attorney. An experienced lawyer can help you determine the best course of action, as well as help you understand and assert your rights to protect your company’s intellectual property.

Can I File My Trademark Application On My Own?

You can technically fill out and submit your trademark application on your own—but it is not recommended. Without proper research, it is easy for inexperienced business owners to make mistakes on their application that could invalidate it. Additionally, the USPTO may reject trademark applications for a variety of reasons, such as lacking proper documentation or failing to meet other requirements.

In order to protect your company’s intellectual property and ensure that your trademark application is accepted by the USPTO, you should seek guidance from a qualified intellectual property attorney.

Topics:

Trademarks,

Trademark Registration,

USPTO