Articles

Can I Trademark My Name?

Oct 28, 2021 | General Practice, Trademark Law

https://youtu.be/oC691sUfeM8 Can I Trademark My Name? There is no problem in trying to trademark your name. You just have to be careful that you are abiding by the rules of trademark law. Trademark law is class-specific - you can only protect a trademark in the...

What Do I Need to Know if I’m Adding a Business Partner?

Oct 28, 2021 | General Practice

https://youtu.be/-UFSUeu4-cw If you are considering bringing in a business partner, there are some steps that you should consider taking to protect yourself and the business as a whole. What to Consider When Adding a New Business Partner You've got to be careful when...

Someone is Using My Trademark

Oct 22, 2021 | General Practice, Trademark Law

https://youtu.be/GG8e_ixQAro What Do I Do If Someone is Using My Mark? The first thing you should do is research that business - see exactly when they began using their mark and how it lines up with your first use. Because trademark law is chronological, whoever used...

State vs. Federal Trademarks

Oct 22, 2021 | General Practice, Trademark Law

https://youtu.be/3OhvmTzAliA What is the Difference Between a State and a Federal Trademark? A state trademark will only offer protection in the state in which you register, whereas a federal trademark will protect the mark nationwide, as well as confer some...

What Kind of Proof Do I Need to Show for Trademark Registration?

Oct 22, 2021 | General Practice, Trademark Law

https://youtu.be/2Y7n22fHiQQ There are a number of things that you are going to have to submit to the Examiner to prove you’re using the trademark and it deserves to be registered. You'll need to prove: That you're using the markThat you were the first to use the...

What Can I Do If My Trademark Is Denied?

Oct 22, 2021 | General Practice, Trademark Law

https://youtu.be/3dmkZvrPI2E If your trademark was rejected, you may still have options. The next steps may include: Request for Reconsideration You can file a request for reconsideration after the final office action to the Examiner themselves. That essentially means...

Principal vs. Supplemental Trademark Registry

Oct 22, 2021 | General Practice, Trademark Law

https://youtu.be/vXR7tzm_xUk Principal Trademark Registry The principal registry is where you want to be, if you can get there: it’s made for marks that have passed examination completely, part of which is a determination of distinctiveness. The principal registry is...

Is My Trademark Unique Enough?

Oct 22, 2021 | General Practice, Trademark Law

https://youtu.be/Tpt8UEx7ad4 The purpose of having a trademark is to protect the intellectual property in your business – brands, names, logos, slogans, etc. Your brand is worth protecting, but the key to protection is that the brand must be unique enough How to...

Descriptive and Generic Terms in Trademarks

Oct 22, 2021 | General Practice, Trademark Law

https://youtu.be/eUrEEUwGuyE Descriptive and Generic Terms When applying for a trademark, the general rule of thumb is to stay away from generic and descriptive words, and phrases. Trademark law reserves certain words and phrases for the public domain, and does not...

What is a Trademark Office Action?

Oct 22, 2021 | General Practice

https://youtu.be/s-p8YQpQmJs If you've applied for a trademark and you've received a notice about an "office action," there are a few possible reasons why. But first, let's talk about what an office action is. What is an Office Action? An office action is essentially...