Trademark Attorneys Recommend Registering Your Logo
Many small business owners often find themselves asking if they should take the time to register the logo they've been using. While registering a trademark doesn't cost a lot (just over three hundred dollars) it's still money that can be used for something else. So in the end, is it worth it to spend the money on a trademark attorney and register your logo?
The answer to the question is yes, you should have your logo officially registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The main reason for going through the registration process is because it provides you with the ability to control how the logo is used and the kind of impression it makes on the average consumer. By not registering the logo you created, anyone is free to use it, even worse, someone else can decide to go through the registration process and make it so you won't be able to use the logo you designed. It's happened before.
Think about all the companies you know. What's the very first thing that pops into your mind? If you're like most people the first thing that popped into your mind is the logo they used. This goes to show you just how important the logo really is. It's the literal face of the company. It's something you want to protect. The last thing you need is for someone else to start using your logo and start using it to create a bad impression of your company. According to trademark attorneys, the best way to prevent someone from besmirching your company's reputation is to make sure you trademark is properly registered.
The little tm symbol next to registered logos might not seem like a big deal, but trademark attorneys quickly point out that the symbol will stop most people from borrowing your trademark and using it in a manner they'll profit from. Most people recognize the logo and know it means that if they borrow you logo and say, print it on a t-shirt and then sell multiple copies of the t-shirt, they can expect a letter from your trademark attorneys warning them if they don't stop using your logo right away that they can expect to find themselves in the middle of a lawsuit they won't be very likely to win.
The general rule of thumb is that you shouldn't try going through the application process on your own, you should check out some trademark attorneys and select the one you think will be the best suited to helping you with your trademark registration. Most of the time, simply following the advice of an experienced trademark attorney will increase the likelihood of your trademark getting registered the first time you try, and no complaints being filed which will delay the process.
The answer to the question is yes, you should have your logo officially registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The main reason for going through the registration process is because it provides you with the ability to control how the logo is used and the kind of impression it makes on the average consumer. By not registering the logo you created, anyone is free to use it, even worse, someone else can decide to go through the registration process and make it so you won't be able to use the logo you designed. It's happened before.
Think about all the companies you know. What's the very first thing that pops into your mind? If you're like most people the first thing that popped into your mind is the logo they used. This goes to show you just how important the logo really is. It's the literal face of the company. It's something you want to protect. The last thing you need is for someone else to start using your logo and start using it to create a bad impression of your company. According to trademark attorneys, the best way to prevent someone from besmirching your company's reputation is to make sure you trademark is properly registered.
The little tm symbol next to registered logos might not seem like a big deal, but trademark attorneys quickly point out that the symbol will stop most people from borrowing your trademark and using it in a manner they'll profit from. Most people recognize the logo and know it means that if they borrow you logo and say, print it on a t-shirt and then sell multiple copies of the t-shirt, they can expect a letter from your trademark attorneys warning them if they don't stop using your logo right away that they can expect to find themselves in the middle of a lawsuit they won't be very likely to win.
The general rule of thumb is that you shouldn't try going through the application process on your own, you should check out some trademark attorneys and select the one you think will be the best suited to helping you with your trademark registration. Most of the time, simply following the advice of an experienced trademark attorney will increase the likelihood of your trademark getting registered the first time you try, and no complaints being filed which will delay the process.