If you’re considering trademark registration, then you’re one step closer to protecting your most valuable business asset – your name! Your business name, brand or logo is a unique identifier of your goods or services in the marketplace and is the primary basis on which customers know to select your products over those of your competitors.
Brand names are our reference point. They represent assurances of quality and craftsmanship, guarantees of dependability and care. Consumers rely on brand names because they feel they can trust them and know what they’re getting, so to speak. But how could one make an informed purchasing decision if the same brand name is used on similar goods from different sources? If you visited your neighborhood pharmacy to purchase Crest® toothpaste and there were several packages labeled “Crest,” how would you know which one was the real McCoy?
That’s the value and importance of trademark protection through federal registration. A registered trademark provides national ownership rights for trademark owners to use their brand name on designated goods or services. What does that mean and why is it important? Trademark registration ensures that you are the only person who can use your particular brand name or logo on the kinds of goods or services that you offer. If you have a registered trademark to sell widgets under the brand name “First Class Widgets,” you can rest assured your competitor across town or across the country will not be able to sell his widgets under that name. Competitors who use names or marks similar to well known brands may be attempting to trade off the established value and goodwill of those brands and siphon potential customers. This is bad for business, whether your brand is known throughout the world or just in your neighborhood.
There are other benefits to trademark registration. In addition to national ownership rights in your brand name or logo, a federally registered trademark forms the basis for international registration to protect your brand outside of the U.S. Trademark owners may also file suit in federal court to protect their trademarks in cases of infringement and seek three times their actual damages as well as attorneys’ fees. Registered trademarks may also be filed with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency to prevent the unlawful entry of infringing goods. Plus, after five years your ownership and right to use the mark becomes incontestable, eliminating nearly every possible defense against infringement.
Why Choose FlatFee Trademark
Now that you have a better understanding of trademark protection and why it’s important for your brand, why should you choose FlatFee Trademark to help you get there? Consider our core values:
Experienced Trademark Attorneys:
Every trademark search opinion and trademark application is handled by one of our experienced trademark attorneys from start to finish. Our attorneys know all the classes of goods and services designated by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to ensure you have maximum protection for the products and services that you offer now or may offer in the future. Our trademark attorneys are also familiar with common pitfalls and bases of refusal that slow the registration process and hinder trademark registration. We use our breadth of knowledge and experience to ensure your trademark application process flows as smoothly and as quickly as possible. And in the event the USPTO issues an Office Action against your application, you already have an experienced trademark attorney who can respond in a timely manner to present legal arguments on your behalf.
FlatFee Pricing: With professional service fees and USPTO filing costs disclosed up front, you can budget accordingly and avoid the unwelcomed surprise that usually comes with hourly billing for legal service. Our trademark attorneys have streamlined the registration process in a manner that results in significant savings to you. FlatFee pricing saves you time and money so you can focus on more important things, like running your business.
Client Service: FlatFee Trademark is not a document preparation service. We are a team of dedicated legal professionals who educate our clients on the basics and benefits of trademark protection and communicate with them every step of the way through trademark registration and beyond. You can be confident that your trademark process will be handled in a timely and professional manner and we’re always just a phone call away if you have any questions or just like to check in.
To learn more about trademark protection and find answers to frequently asked questions, visit our website, www.FlatFeeTrademark.com. If you’re ready to get started with the trademark registration process, please complete our trademark registration form online or via email, and submit it to info@flatfeetrademark.com. You may also contact us at 1.800.769.7790 for a free consultation regarding your specific trademark concerns.
About the Author: FLATFEE TRADEMARK is a law firm with offices located in downtown Miami. The Firm offers first-rate legal services to a wide range of clients in the following practice areas: corporate and business law, trademark protection, and brand management.