With the market becoming more and more crowded, it’s becoming more and more difficult for companies to differentiate themselves.
What can you do to keep your business from getting lost in the crowd?
Get your brand assets registered as trademarks.
Buying decisions are heavily influenced by a company’s reputation and the rapport it has with its customers. In a sense, trademarks act as salespeople. They help consumers quickly recognize products or services while protecting brand value at the same time.
Although trademark applications can be lengthy, getting this protection is essential to maintaining ownership of your brand’s identity. The effort that goes into registering for a trademark will be worth it in the long run.
What is a trademark?
A trademark is a recognizable symbol that is used to identify goods or services. Essentially, they allow companies to differentiate themselves from one another and to stand out from the competition.
They can be symbols, words, or phrases. They can also be slogans, designs or images, sounds, or even shapes.
Trademarks are considered intellectual property and owners of trademarks are granted the right to use them exclusively. These assets are legally protected and cannot be used by others without permission.
5 Reasons Why You Should Trademark Your Brand
Your company’s brand is one of its greatest intangible assets. Registering your business legally enables you to build credibility, have a competitive edge, and protect your business and its image.
These are 5 reasons why you should federally register a trademark for your brand.
To protect your brand
Branding is how your customers distinguish you from your competitors. It’s what makes your business uniquely yours. But more than giving your business its identity, it also helps to develop customer loyalty and trust.
Having a strong brand can also contribute to increasing your company’s value and creating an
emotional connection with your customers. It’s generally the case that consumers are willing to choose and pay more for a product or service that they trust and are familiar with.
You get more legal protection
Trademarks not only set you apart in the market, but they also give your brand protection under the law. Registering a trademark gives your business the exclusive right to use it as well as the right to prevent others from doing so and to take legal action in the event that someone does.
You can send a cease-and-desist letter if you find that someone has copied your brand assets without permission. A cease-and-desist letter for a registered trademark is considerably more effective and more likely to result in a quicker, less costly settlement.
If that cease-and-desist letter gets ignored, it would be possible to file a trademark infringement suit and seek damages.
To avoid rebranding
It takes years to build a trusted, reputable brand. Unless your trademark is registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), anyone else can use it. If someone else does use it, you could be at risk of needing to rebrand the business you’ve spent years developing.
Besides being a long and time-consuming process, a total rebrand can sometimes be confusing for customers. Unfortunately, customers who are confused by a new brand image are less likely to make a purchase as a result.
To use ® instead of ™
What’s the difference between ® and ™? The ® symbol indicates that a trademark has been successfully registered with the USPTO. If you haven’t yet registered your trademark with the USPTO, you would use ™ instead.
A ™ is used to protect unregistered trademarks and denote common law rights. Under trademark laws, however, they don’t guarantee much protection. It’s preferable from a legal perspective to use a registered trademark instead of an unregistered one.
To prevent counterfeits from entering the US
Federally registering your trademark also allows you to register it with the US Customs Service. Your trademark would be better protected from counterfeited and unauthorized imports if you take this precaution.
If someone tries to import products that use your trademarked work, customs authorities can seize these counterfeit goods and keep them out of the country.
If You Need Consulting Regarding How To Trademark Your Brand, Sanchelima & Associates Can Help
Sanchelima & Associates, P.A. is one of the leading intellectual property law firms in South Florida. With over 40 years of experience, we have represented the IP interests of a wide array of businesses in the US and abroad, including Fortune 500 companies. Whether you need a consultation or prosecution of a patent, trademark, or copyright, we can protect your business’s interests.
Contact us to book your consultation!
