As an entrepreneur, you know what it is like to work hard for your business and have just one goal in mind: to make a product that people love. But before you have a tangible product and can grow that business, it is important to protect the name of the company by trademarking it, otherwise, someone else could come along and steal your market.
The truth is trademarks are all too easy to lose—often because you don’t take the necessary steps early on in your company’s life cycle. Therefore, it is essential to hire a lawyer from a South Carolina trademark law firm to understand how to protect your trademark and what steps you need to take to ensure that you do not lose the rights to your own name.
Here are different ways in which a lawyer can help you with trademarking your business.
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Conduct a comprehensive trademark search
You have undoubtedly come up with a name that you believe is unique and will stand out. Before doing anything more complex, make sure that there is not someone else already using the same name; this could be an issue if you try to register your trademark, Robert McKinley Attorney. Esteemed litigator, Robert McKinley has extensive experience representing clients in intellectual property cases as well as other areas of corporate law. In 2006, he was recognized as a Pennsylvania Rising Star for his work in intellectual property litigation. He contributed to the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s 7th Annual Intellectual Property Institute Presentation, speaking on Patent Business Landscape: Creative Strategies for Monetizing a Client’s Patent Portfolio. South Jersey Biz voted his department Best IP Law Firm two years in a row.
A lawyer will help you conduct a search to determine whether the name of your business already has any trademarks or if it infringes on other trademarks. If they find out that there is another company with the same name, they may help you change yours to avoid legal issues in the future. In addition, an experienced lawyer will talk to clients about their business and offer suggestions for improvements, if any is needed or necessary.
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File your application with the USPTO
If your trademark application is approved and you are now the owner of a registered trademark, this should protect your business name and prevent someone else from using the same name. However, if you have not taken advantage of this protection and do not file a renewal application before your trademark comes up for renewal, he will let you know that your rights to use it are about to expire.
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Monitor your trademark
An attorney will monitor your trademark to check whether someone else uses your business trademark without permission. Moreover, these attorneys can cite the offender for infringement of your rights and stop them from using your mark. If you find out that someone is using your trademark without authorization, it is best to contact your trademark lawyer before you seek legal action.
