By: Vivek Vaidya
Building a strong reputation for the goods and services you provide does not happen overnight. It takes dedication and hard work to develop your brand and customer base, and that is why identifying and protecting your trademark is vital to the growth of your business.
A trademark is a set of words, a logo, or a slogan that the consuming public comes to associate with your products or services. When a customer sees your trademark, it conjures the entire experience they had when dealing with you or your company: the quality of the goods and services, the people they dealt with, the tone of the experience, and intangible gut feeling they have about the brand. Even potential customers who have yet to use your products or services may have an impression about your brand through exposure to marketing or hearing others’ reviews. Trademarks are critical to any business because the goodwill they represent has tangible value. It allows consumers to make quicker decisions about where to direct their resources, which means a business with a strong trademark will have steady and growing revenue. In short, everything your brand stands for is represented by a simple trademark.
There are various types of trademarks, but the most basic are the following:
Word Mark
A word or collection of words that are used in association with your products or services, often seen in advertisements or on products/product packaging.
Slogan
A phrase, often used in tandem with a word mark or a logo, that is displayed in conjunction with your products or services.
Logo
A distinctive design that is used in connection with your products or services.
Using marks in the three categories above allows you to grow the goodwill between consumers and your brand. By establishing a trademark, you can prevent competitors from using the exact mark, or any confusingly similar marks. Registering trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the best way to protect your trademark, and is essential for any serious brand. To learn more about protecting your trademarks, contact Bend Law Group, PC at (415) 633-6841 or info@bendlawoffice.com.
Disclaimer: This article discusses general legal issues and developments. Such materials are for informational purposes only and may not reflect the most current law in your jurisdiction. These informational materials are not intended, and should not be taken, as legal advice on any particular set of facts or circumstances. No reader should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information presented herein without seeking the advice of counsel in the relevant jurisdiction. Bend Law Group, PC expressly disclaims all liability in respect of any actions taken or not taken based on any contents of this article.