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A Law Firm Offering Services And Representation In Trademark Matters

So you are thinking of starting your own business. The first thing your attorney will advise you to do is to check with the Secretary of State to see if the name of your business is available on the corporate name database. Unfortunately, after this step, many businesses stop thinking about their trademarks and this can be a costly mistake.

In order to avoid this and other errors, it is wise to consult with an experienced business attorney like those at Kerrick Bachert, PSC. We have decades of experience serving the needs of Kentucky entrepreneurs and small business owners.

A Basic Overview Of Trademarks For Kentucky Business Owners

A trademark is a word, name, symbol or device that is used by businesses in conjunction with its goods to indicate to the public the source of the goods.

We often think of a service mark as being the same as a trademark. However, a service mark concerns the service source. It is important to think about your company’s trademarks and service marks during the initial phases of setup. Many businesses neglect to check if their trademark is available for registration and, perhaps more importantly, if anyone else has already registered their trademark.

When setting up a business, a search for relevant trademark registrations should always be conducted.  There are different avenues of searching for trademark registrations to determine if your trademark is infringing on another’s trademark. One method is the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Trademark Database, which can be found on the Secretary of State’s website. This database can help you identify companies in Kentucky that may be using a similar trademark.

Seeking Federal Trademark Protection

A new business owner should always search the U.S. Patent And Trademark Office website; www.uspto.gov for federal trademark registrations to determine if someone else has federally registered their trademark. If you need assistance in searching for federal registrations, you can contact an attorney who is familiar with trademarks. Federal registration is important because it gives the owner nationwide rights in the United States and can be used to prevent others from using a confusingly similar mark. If you learn that someone else has already federally registered your trademark for a similar good or service, you should consider choosing a different trademark. There is nothing more frustrating to a business owner to have invested her time and money into developing a valued trademark only to later learn that she must stop using the mark because someone else has a federal registration on a confusingly similar mark for similar goods. Changing a trademark or service mark for a company is both frustrating and a very expensive process.

Any business offering goods or services under a valuable trademark or service mark should consider seeking protection through a federal registration with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Although it is not inexpensive, federal registration provides a number of benefits and assists in the enforcement of trademark rights against infringers as well as enhanced monetary damages.

Common Questions About Trademarks

Below, you’ll find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions clients have about trademarks and trademark protection.

If I Am Already Using A Trademark In My Business But Have Not Obtained A Federal Registration On That Mark, Do I Have Any Protection?

Individuals or businesses establish common law trademark rights by simply using the trademark in conjunction with the goods or services. By registering that trademark with the U.S. Trademark Office, those rights are enhanced. Common law rights are limited to only where the mark has been used. Federal registration on the other hand provides protection throughout the entire United States.

What Kind Of Marks Cannot Be Registered With The Federal Trademark Office?

You cannot register every symbol or name as a trademark with the U.S. Trademark Office. Categories of marks you will likely not be able to register include:

  1. Marks deemed generic
  2. Surnames, except those that become known due to long use and advertising
  3. Flags of nations or states
  4. Marks that are primarily geographic
  5. Portraits or signatures of living individuals without that individual’s consent
  6. Marks that could create confusion, mistake or deception due to similarity
  7. Marks descriptive of a product or service

How Can I Determine If My Trademark Is Eligible For Federal Registration?

The best way to determine if a trademark is eligible for federal registration is to conduct a search of the registered marks, to determine if there are any registrations that may be so similar in sound or connotation that it is likely to confuse consumers about the source of the goods or services. The USPTO website offers a search engine that allows you to conduct searches prior to filing an application for registration.

Our office assists with conducting the preliminary searches and can also initiate a clearance search which would ensure that there are no prior users of the mark in other areas of the country.

What Are Trade Secrets?

Trade secrets have commercial value for a business and also contain proprietary information that has commercial value and is held by a business.  Federal trade secret laws provide protection for a wide variety of items, including information, patterns, formulas and devices, from being used without your permission. We generally protect trade secrets through confidentiality agreements and other documentation.

What Is The Difference Between The™ And The ®?

The ™ trademark indicates that an individual is claiming trademark rights to his/her trademark. The term SM may be used if a service is being provided by a business or individual. The term TM and SM does not indicate that any type of registration has been obtained.

The ® is the registration symbol for the registration of a trademark or service mark on the federal trademark database. The ® symbol should not be utilized until registration has actually been obtained. It is considered a false advertisement to use the ® when an application for registration is merely pending.

I Am Thinking About Starting A Business And Do Not Have The Funds To Register My Trademark.  Should I Be Concerned About The Federal Registration Of My Trademark At This Point?

Even though you may not have the funds available to obtain a federal registration for your trademark, you should take steps to ensure that the trademark you are planning to use does not infringe upon someone else’s federally registered trademark. This can be accomplished by conducting a search on the USPTO website. This will help to ensure that you will not receive a “cease and desist” letter from an owner of a federal trademark, two to three years after you have put in significant amounts of effort into developing name recognition of your trademark.

What Is The Term Of The Federal Registration?

Federal registrations have terms with 10-year renewals. In the first 10-year term, an affidavit of continued use must be filed between the fifth and sixth year to maintain registration. Registration can be renewed indefinitely as long as the mark is in use. The US Trademark Office does not send reminders about the maintenance or the renewal of registrations.

We Have The Skills And Knowledge You Need – Contact Us Today

Kerrick Bachert, PSC, is a go-to resource for business owners in and around Bowling Green and Elizabethtown, Kentucky. One of our attorneys, Laura Hagan, regularly practices before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and her practice involves assisting individuals with their intellectual property needs, such as patents, trademarks, trade secrets and copyrights.

To discuss your needs with us, call 270-715-2410 or send us an email to schedule an initial consultation.