Trademarks can be exceedingly important, especially if your business is national or international via the Internet. Having a trademark on your products or services could make the difference if another company covets your domain name. Federal trademark registration shows competitors that you “mean business” and provides a measure of protection that is not otherwise obtainable.
The attorney you choose to file your trademark application should be knowledgeable and experienced, or you may be wasting valuable time. Given that the US PTO generally takes from a year to two years in order to register your trademark, you can’t afford any further delays due to misfiled applications, improperly written descriptions of use, etc. For information on the options for protecting your trade names, see our discussion of whether trademark registration is right for your business.
If you’ve already attempted to file your trademark application on your own, and have received an “Office Action” from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, you need an experienced trademark attorney as soon as possible. Improper responses to office actions could mean denial of your trademark, difficulty if your trademark is opposed after publication, or even lack of coverage in key areas that you need to have protected.
If your trademark has been published for opposition, and another party has filed a notice of opposition or has sent you a letter indicating they might oppose your trademark’s registration, call us as soon as possible.
Have you been the recipient of a “Cease and Desist” letter? Do you wish to SEND a “Cease and Desist” letter? Trademark infringement can be a serious problem for any business, whether they be on the sending or receiving side. For more information on trademark infringement, please see trademark infringement – what next?
