Although
registering a federal trademark or state trademark, at first glance, appears to be a relatively simple process, it is often not as simple as it appears. Trademark law is very complex and subjective, and the
trademark registration process is more complicated than filling out an application and submitting the appropriate fee to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
For example, before any
trademark application is filed, the business should determine, among other things:
» Is the trademark appropriate for registration
» What is the spectrum of distinctiveness of the trademark
» Does the trademark have a secondary meaning
» Has another business established rights in the trademark
» Is the trademark confusingly similar with another trademark
» What industry classes should the trademark be filed under
One question we are often asked by new
Illinois start-up businesses and small businesses is how many trademarks should the business seek to prosecute. The answer, of course, is it depends on the business. That said, however, the majority of
new small businesses generally have at least two trademarks that it should initially seek to prosecute. One is for the standard character word mark for the business name, and the second is for the businesses logo or design trademark. To assist businesses and entrepreneurs in protecting their valuable intellectual property, we offer flat-fee trademark registration packages that may include:
» Pre-Application
Trademark Selection and Analysis
» USPTO Federal
Trademark Search
» USPTO Federal
Trademark Classification
» Trademark Application Preparation
» Trademark Registration with the USPTO
» Trademark Application Status Updates
» Responding to standard inquires from the USPTO Trademark Examining Attorney
Other legal services include:
» Licensing Agreements
» Acquisition Agreements
» Non-disclosure, Confidentiality, and Non-Compete Agreements
» Protecting Trade Secrets
» Internet and Domain Name Issues