Trademark owners aren’t just being aggressive when they search for infringement, send cease-and-desist letters, or file lawsuits. They have to (and so do YOU). If
Under U.S. trademark law, infringement occurs when a business name, logo, or other brand identifier is so similar to an existing trademark that it could
Many small business owners assume that if they didn’t intend to copy someone else’s trademark, they can’t be sued for infringement. Unfortunately, intent doesn’t matter.
To avoid these pitfalls, aim for names that are suggestive, arbitrary, or fanciful:
• Suggestive: Hints at what you do without being too obvious
Sometimes, a mark that suffers from the ailment of being generic, descriptive, or primarily a surname (or some other problems) can be registered on the
Many businesses are named after their founders, but if your business name is primarily a surname, you could run into trademark challenges. The USPTO generally
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) won’t grant trademark protection to business names that are purely generic (e.g., “The Coffee Shop” for a café)
When starting a business, choosing the perfect name is one of the most exciting and crucial decisions you’ll make. You want a name that tells
When starting a business, choosing the perfect name is one of the most exciting and crucial decisions you’ll make. You want a name that tells
Partnering with patent attorneys for patent searches provides peace of mind. Patent attorneys not only conduct in-depth searches but also interpret complex and nuanced legal
Once the thorough patent searches are done, what happens next? Results from patent searches are powerful knowledge, if they’re analyzed properly. Evaluating the search results
Some patent searching can be done on your own, and should be, and some should be left to the professionals. Here’s the difference.
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your specific situation, consult with a licensed attorney.