Trademarks: How-To

A copyright and trademark are ways of protecting intellectual property, but a trademark is what a retail business would be interested in because it covers the right of things such as brands, titles and logos. The process of developing a trademark can be a bit confusing, however, and a recent CNNMoney “Ask and Answer” column featured a how-to explanation. Here’s the breakdown:

Get registered. There are plenty of ways to register a trademark, and CNNMoney's "Ask and Answer" columnist Kathleen Ryan O'Connor suggests a low-cost method such as a do-it-yourself legal site (for example: LegalZoom). The DIY cost ranges from about $150 for a basic package to around $400 for a more comprehensive package (for example, LegalZoom can search the federal trademark database for direct conflicts with your prospective trademark). The next step is for you, a lawyer or a legal service to prepare a federal trademark application and file it with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. (The USPTO Web site has an extensive FAQ section and a fee schedule if you choose to file directly on your own.).

Maintain protection. Registering your trademark is only the beginning. For your rights to a trademark to continue, you have to use it, protect it against infringers and renew it—trademarks can last forever as long as you monitor them and follow the rules.

For the full article, click here.

Source:

CNNMoney: Trademarks 101: How To Protect Your Good Name

Related Content:

Making A Mark: An Introduction To Trademarks