Are you an entrepreneur or a large business owner? Whether you are a small business owner or the owner of a large corporation, you should consider getting a trademark for your business. Having a trademark ensures that you have the right to press charges if you believe that someone is stealing your intellectual property. While applying for a trademark may seem to be scary or intimidating, it does not have to be that way. Hiring a trademark attorney will help you throughout the whole process so that you can get your brand protected. At Beard St. Clair Gaffney, we have a highly qualified team who is ready to help you throughout the whole process, so that you can keep your intellectual property protected.

What is a Trademark?

A trademark is a symbol that represents your brand. Trademarks include symbols, words, phrases, or even colors in some instances. These symbols are very useful when it comes to branding, as your brand can be identified by these things. Trademarks represent the goods or services that are provided by your company. This is very beneficial as it allows for a great way for customers to associate with and recognize your brand. While it sometimes may seem as though with everything, including words, logos, colors, and phrases, that almost anything can be trademarked, that is not the case. There are, in fact, things that are not able to be trademarked.

Things that Cannot be Trademarked

The trademark application process does not allow just anything to be trademarked; there are some regulations that must be followed. Common words and phrases are not allowed to be trademarked, as a brand would no longer be identifiable through a common word or phrase. Trademarks are also industry specific, so you cannot have the same trademark or one that is similar to a competitor within the industry. It is also noted that verses of scripture are unable to be trademarked. This also not only has to do with the same concept of not being identifiable with a brand, but also with the respect of religion in general.

Why Do You Need a Trademark?

Sometimes the thought of getting a trademark for your company may seem to be scary or overwhelming. However, obtaining a trademark for your company will actually help you as you strive to develop branding for your company. Without a trademark, another company in your same industry could potentially use your branding for their company with no consequences. Without a trademark, you are not able to press charges against someone who steals the way in which you have done your branding. If you choose to get a trademark, however, you will have the ability to press charges against those, within your industry, who may try to use your ideas and branding methods for themselves.

How Long Is a Trademark Viable?

Luckily, when it comes to trademarks, they are viable for as long as you are using them. However, between the ninth and tenth years from when your trademark was approved, you will need to renew your trademark registration. You will continue to do so every tenth year. If you miss a deadline, however, when it comes to renewing your registration, you will be charged a fee for the late renewal process. This is of great benefit to you as you keep your company in business for a long period of time, as the trademark will always belong to your company.

How Long is the Trademark Application Process?

Registering your trademark is a lengthy and complex process. Typically, this process can take anywhere from 12-18 months. It takes this long because there are many things that need to be checked and gone over to make sure that your mark is eligible to actually be a trademark. This is an optimistic time frame if you worked with an attorney who knows what all needs to be on the application. If you try to figure out the application for yourself, then it may take even longer. As mistakes are made on the trademark application, that could increase the time that the application needs by months. Hiring a trademark attorney will help ensure that no mistakes are made, so that you can get your trademark in the shortest amount of time possible.

Why Do You Need a Trademark Attorney?

The process of filing and submitting an application to get a trademark is one that is complicated, lengthy, and can be confusing. Without a trademark attorney, many people are prone to making mistakes on their application, which can set back the application months. However, trademark attorneys are well experienced, know what the application needs, and will ensure that the application is filled out correctly, so that you can get your application reviewed and approved as soon as possible. The attorney will help you through the process, and will communicate with those who review the application so that they will be aware of any updates or revisions that need to be made throughout the process.

Why Beard St. Clair Gaffney?

If you are considering getting a trademark to protect your intellectual property, Beard St. Clair Gaffney is here to help you. All of our attorneys are here to assist you through the process. Not only will they take care of all of the application process, and any other communications with those in charge of reviewing the application, they will also take the time to fight for your rights if there has been an infringement of any kind. The attorneys are experienced and well qualified to guide you in your efforts to protect your rights.

Contact Us

If you want a trademark for your business, then look no further. We want to help you ensure that your intellectual property is safe, and that others do not have the chance to steal it to use it for their own things. Contact us today, so that we can get started on this process. We look forward to hearing from you, as well as working with you.