Patent Attorney and Founder
If you’re new to business, you may be asking, “why trademark a logo?” The trademark process may seem more trouble than it’s worth when you have limited value in your branded assets. However, trademarks will be critical for maintaining your brand’s reputation and credibility in the long run.
That’s especially true as we’re moving into new, uncharted waters in intellectual property law. Things like nonfungible tokens have introduced a new class of assets to manage, while e-commerce growth has eliminated international business barriers. As we watch massive digital transformation take place across industries, we’re discovering new reasons why you should trademark a logo.
5 Reasons to Trademark a Logo
The reason you trademark a logo is the same reason you’d protect anything of value to your business. It’s an investment that would represent a loss if damaged. That’s growing even more important today, as innovation has created some confusion and new challenges in the face of IP protection. Here are five ways a trademark helps you navigate the changing legal landscape.
#1: You proactively defend against infringement
A trademark is a proactive measure. It tells others that this is your intellectual property and no one else is allowed to use it. It’s a straightforward statement that goes a long way toward fighting infringement.
And that’s lucky because there is a whole new way that logos can be infringed upon in the intellectual property space. Nonfungible tokens are media files that can be traded, sold, and exchanged. Several famous brands, including Hermes and Nike, have filed lawsuits over the use of their logos and other branded assets in these NFT sales. This is a new area of the law that is still under review. A trademark is the only proactive measure to prevent issues like these as the court decides how to handle them.
#2: You protect yourself from unintentional infringement
There are as many as 24 million e-commerce stores across the globe. The barrier to entry has been eliminated. Anyone with something to sell and an internet connection can own a business—and anyone can create a logo. If you start using yours without registering it, you may accidentally infringe on someone else’s.
One of the first steps to trademark approval is clearing a trademark search. A search is conducted to determine if your logo or one similar is in use by anyone in your same industry. If it is, your trademark is denied. If not, you can claim it.
#3: You show confidence in your brand
One of the best benefits for new entrepreneurs to emerge online has been crowdfunding. These platforms allow you to gain support for your idea from investors worldwide. However, it’s not easy to gain attention on these platforms. There’s a lot of competition, and entrepreneurs need to be able to differentiate themselves.
Trademarks inspire confidence in a brand. They show the idea is established and used in commerce, making it a more substantial investment prospect than someone else’s abstract idea.
#4: You can manage your online reputation more easily
Filing a report over questionable online content has unpredictable results. That complaint may disappear into a moderation black hole, only to return a form response that there’s no breach of the terms of service.
Actual ownership of a trademark puts you in a stronger position on social media. Every major site has a direct report space for trademark violations, and they take them very seriously due to liability concerns. You simply submit proof of the trademark, and the site will often ban the violator or take down the content.
#5: You prepare for an international launch
The growth of e-commerce has also opened international business opportunities. Entrepreneurs are no longer limited to US borders—but trademark protection is. If you want to expand your business beyond the US, you’ll need to protect your IP in other markets. The first step to that is filing a US trademark application. That application can then be used for submissions under the international Madrid System, where you can seek protection in up to 128 countries.
Taking the First Step in Trademarking IP
You should trademark a logo for many reasons, but it’s not a DIY job. The application process gets expensive if you submit incomplete or incorrect information. You’ll also need to do a thorough search to ensure your design is eligible. Working with an online logo trademark registration service like Bold Patents is the best way to streamline your process.
Experienced IP attorneys understand the challenges involved in logo trademarking and can guide you as you navigate them. They can be your guide as you expand your business and your branded assets.
With our 86 percent first-time application clearance rate, Bold Patents is the best choice when you’re ready to trademark your logo, slogan, or other branded assets. Call 800-849-1913 or connect with us online to learn more.