A business trademark is an important addition to any business. It aims to protect a business’s identity and how the public knows it. Customers can recognize you through your logo, catchy phrase, or other aspects. These are the items to trademark.
The trademark ensures no other business uses the same logo or phrase for their operations. However, for this to be possible, you must register the trademark with the relevant body in your state. How will you do this? It’s a question you might ask; put your worries aside. This article gives insight into business trademark registration.
Here are some tips to adopt:
1. File For A Statement Of Use
Successfully registering your business trademark isn’t enough. You must start using it as soon as it’s registered. Regarding this, most states will require you to file a statement of use document. What is a trademark statement of use?
The document proves that you are using your registered trademark. The body will require proof of its use on your product or service. Be sure to file this document, providing the needed documentation within the given timeframe. Most bodies will require this statement within six months of issuing you a notice of allowance.
A notice of allowance informs you of the success of your business trademark registration.
2. Do Your Research
When making business decisions, knowing all there is about the prospect is always advisable. It’s the same approach you should adopt when registering a business trademark.
You should learn about business trademarking. Knowledge is power; the information you get from the research will ensure you get the process right on the first attempt.
Please use online sources to find out what the registering body requires of your trademark. For instance, some require that it be free of abusive language or illustration, surname, and neither should it be descriptive. These sources will also help you find out if your chosen logo or phrase is trademarked.
It’ll also be an added advantage if you discover what makes these bodies reject applications. Is it spelling errors in the trademark, leaving blanks in the form, or delays in submitting the documents?
With all this information, you have a checklist to verify your application. You’ll have better chances than the party without such insight.
3. Take Care Of Your Trademark
Getting a business trademark is commendable, and you should protect it to ensure no other party tries to use it for their brand. These are possibilities that have happened; hence, the need to be wary.
You’ll protect your trademark by closely monitoring other businesses’ activities. The aim is to look out for brands that are using your exact trademark or something closer that could cause confusion to customers. If you identify such a business, proceed with legal action against them.
It’s important to acknowledge that active monitoring can be challenging for a business owner. You have more important things to handle to keep your operations running. Therefore, consider hiring somebody to handle this aspect for you.
4. Act Faster
Thousands of businesses apply for trademark registration every day. Among these, what’s the probability of another business wanting to trademark a phrase or logo similar to yours? The probability is quite high, hence the need to act faster.
Suppose a business wants to trademark your ideal logo, and they submit the documents ahead of you. The registering body will reject your application, taking you back to square one of designing another logo.
Consider registering your business trademark as soon as you open shop, be it an e-commerce or a physical business.
5. Take Note Of The Dates
Business trademark registration is a continuous journey that you’ll need to take as long as you plan to use your trademark in the long run. In most states, other documentation follows registration.
Some of the documents are mentioned earlier; the statement of use and notice of allowance. The other document touches on the renewal of the business trademark.
The filing of these documents is based on a time frame. Should you file the document a day or two late, there’s a high probability you’ll lose your trademark rights. The registering body will give the trademark to another business. However, it’s crucial to point out that some bodies will allow you to request an extension to file the documents. Most will require you to do this before the deadline.
This shows the importance of marking the filing time frames and the day of your trademark registration. Please mark this on your business calendar and set alerts as the day nears; you’re less likely to forget.
Conclusion
This discussion has established that registering a business trademark can and is easy with the right guidance. It has further given tips you should consider adopting to help you with the process. The main take-home is to do your research before filing for registration. It’ll avail all the necessary information for the process.
