Remien Law, Inc. | Trademark Protection
Are you launching a new business or a new product line or re-branding? Congratulations!
Once you have a name of a company, product, product line or name of your service, do the following self-help steps:
- www.uspto.gov: go under "Trademarks" and "Search" and type your mark into the Federal database. Notice whether any exact or similar marks are revealed that are pending or registered for the same or similar goods and services for which you intend to use your mark.
If Not, go to Step 2:
- Type your mark into Google, Yahoo and/or MSN. Notice whether any other party already appears to be using the same or similar mark with the same or similar goods and services for which you intend to use your mark.
If you do not notice any same or similar marks for the same or similar services, the next step is to contact a trademark attorney to complete the search process and help you file an application (if appropriate) and navigate through the trademark registration process with Office Action responses, preparation of Statements of Use and selecting the right Specimen to show correct use of the mark in connection with the goods or services.
An attorney can help you assess the risks of use and/or registration prior to expending the marketing dollars to promote your new brand. Also, make sure the attorney has access to searches that will show current uses of your potential brand within various social media sources. Social media sources will also be important when discussing how to enforce your trademark.
Prior to designing a final advertising piece, ask your attorney for an advertising clearance. Correct usage of your marks and correct permission to use others' marks is critical.
Your attorney can also help you in case your trademark application is opposed by another party. Similarly, an attorney can help where you want to move to cancel a mark registered by another company or help you defend your mark against cancellation.
Contact Remien Law, Inc., Today
Registering your trademark is the first step to protecting it. Contact Remien Law, Inc., today at 312-462-0322, or contact us online. Chicago intellectual property attorney Natalie A. Remien assists businesses and entrepreneurs with trademark and copyright issues, as well as corporate formation and agreements. Our business hours are 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and evenings and weekends by appointment. We represent clients throughout Chicago, Illinois