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Importance of Trademarking Your Business Name
- Trademark your business name first to protect your brand identity across states.
- Register your business name as a trademark as soon as possible.
- Send cease and desist letters if your trademark is infringed.
Benefits of Trademark Registration
- National recognition comes with a trademark, preventing customer confusion that hurts sales.
- Registering helps prohibit others in your field from using the same or similar names.
- A registered trademark allows you to grant others the right to use your brand in exchange for royalties, expanding your reach without compromising integrity.
Understanding Trademark Types
- There are two trademark types: common law and registered.
- To trademark a name, file an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
- Registering federally gives nationwide rights to enforce your trademark, deterring others from using your name.
- Common law provides rights to a company name in commercial use, with protection limited geographically.
Consequences of Not Trademarking Your Brand Name
- Trademark your business name to ensure no other entity can legally use an identical or confusingly similar name for related goods or services.
- If your trademark is infringed, send cease and desist letters.
- Monitor use by others, even with a registered company name.
