How are trademark rights established?
To obtain federal trademark registration, you must file an application with the USPTO and have it approved. Registering a trademark with the USPTO gives you a legal presumption that you have the right to use the trademark nationwide and prevent others from using a similar mark for the same types of goods or services.
Who has the right to a trademark?
Once acquired, trademark rights may be registered with the USPTO. “The Lanham Act gives a seller or producer the exclusive right to “register” a trademark, 15 U.S.C. § 1052, and to prevent his or her competitors from using that trademark, § 1114(1).”
What gives a person a right to use a trademark?
Known as the trademark fair use doctrine, you can use a trademark owner’s mark or symbol nominatively for limited purposes as part of your constitutional rights to free speech granted by the First Amendment.
Do I really need to trademark my logo?
Since trademarks are used to identify a company or brand, it makes the most sense to file for trademark protection on the brand name, logo or image. … So, if you are investing in a brand image, you should seek a trademark registration to protect it. But, your image may also qualify for copyright protection as well.
What Cannot be registered as a trademark?
Section 13 and 14 of the Act provides that trademarks containing specific names cannot be registered. Trademarks which have a word that is commonly used of any single chemical element or chemical compound in relation to a chemical substance or preparation cannot be registered.
What are the 3 types of trademarks?
There are four categories of trademarks: (1) fanciful or arbitrary, (2) suggestive, (3) descriptive, and (4) generic.
How long does trademark last?
How long does a trademark last in the US? In the United States, a federal trademark can potentially last forever, but it has to be renewed every ten years. If the mark is still being used between the 5th and the 6th year after it was registered, then the registration can be renewed.
Can I own a trademark?
Keep in mind that only a legal owner of a trademark has standing to enforce the intellectual property rights of that mark. … Under U.S. law joint ownership of a trademark is legal. However, practically speaking it can be challenging to jointly own a mark.
Can a person register a trademark?
The trademark must be applied for under the actual owner’s name. … The owner of the trademark is the person who controls the nature and the quality of the goods sold or the services rendered under the trademark. The owner can be an individual.
Should I get a trademark or LLC first?
In many cases, a business will want to start the trademark application as soon as their LLC or corporation paperwork is filed. By filing for a trademark prior to launch, you can be sure that your name is protected once you begin commercial sales. However, there may be an even stronger reason to apply early.