Top 3 Reasons Why Trademarks Are Important To Your Business

As a small business owner and entrepreneur, I can relate to a lot of my clients. My biggest frustration is seeing them embroiled in costly litigation or soon to be litigation. Litigation for what, you ask? One example is simply for the right to keep their name. They come to find themselves in this predicament for failing to take the necessary steps to protect their business name. It is not that they voluntarily chose to make this “mistake”, it’s just that they simply did not know. And that is where I come in. I chose this area of law in order to help build up entrepreneurs and educate them on what must be done to protect their businesses and why.

Here are the 3 top reasons why trademarks are important to your business:

1. Unique Identity and Branding. When you see a white check mark (“Swoosh”), what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Nike! Nike has created a brand for itself. Consumers all over the world can identify that that sign is connected to Nike. Registering a trademark for your business name, logo, or slogan creates a brand. A brand that will provide your business with a unique identity and allows consumers to distinguish your business from your competitors. Trademarks are an excellent commercial communication tool that are used to capture customer attention and make your business and your product or service stand out.

2. Protection. Coming up with a business name, logo, or slogan can be rough. But once you have chosen it, it is satisfying and it is your creation, your “baby”. Now tell me, who wants their baby stolen? No one. If you don’t register your trademark for your business name, logo, or slogan (aka “brand”) then someone else will. That would immediately put your business and all the products and/or services you provide at risk. To make matters worse, if there happens to be a registered owner of the same or a substantially similar mark, that owner will have an indefinite period of time to find you and sue you for infringement. By registering your trademark, that’ll serve as constructive notice to all of the United States that you are the owner of that brand. You will be protecting your brand, and will be able to prevent others from using similar brands. You will be within your rights to take actions against parties who have attempted to register conflicting trademarks or are currently using conflicting brands and damaging your business.

3. Business Growth. Let’s be honest, seeing the symbol ® create

s a sense of trust in a brand. Customers who see a business name, logo, or slogan that has been federally registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office immediately know that they are dealing with someone legit. Trademarks give your product a status of “branded goods” and stimulates future purchases. It serves as a badge of loyalty and affiliation.

These are just 3 of the many benefits of trademark registration. The monetary cost in federally registering your trademark is clearly outweighed by the significant advantages afforded to you.