One of my clients Colleen Gratzer hosts a podcast called Design Domination. Colleen asked me to help explain some legal matters related to design and the creative business. You can listen to our conversation or read the transcript (if that is your thing). Also, if you are in the...
In the world of marketing and brand building, there have been some iconic taglines that become famous trademarks. Just Do It! by Nike I'm Lovin' It by McDonald's Think Different by Apple All of these taglines have become synonymous with their company and brands, which is the goal of...
Over the past couple of months, I have assisted a few clients in dealing with trademark cease and desist letters. A cease-and-desist letter is just like it sounds, a demand by a trademark owner to another business to stop using their trademark. Often these letters...
Congratulations! You got your trademark registered with the US PTO. You have an officially registered trademark blessed by the United States government. If you think that was the hard part, it is not. Now comes the hard part of policing, protecting, and maintaining your trademark. Let’s...
Filing an application for a trademark registration with the United States Patent & Trademark Office is surprisingly easy in terms of the actual process itself if you are prepared with your materials. There are services out there that will help you file a trademark registration...
Companies who are looking to build a brand should also be thinking about trademarks and how to create a strong trademark. When I am consulted as an attorney, I am often asked about what goes into a strong trademark. So before launching into what a...
I am a big fan of The Slants, not just their music, but their crusade against the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. The Slants had a gig as the Supreme Court of the United States last week. Well, their lawyers did, even if the band...
Here is my Laywer Live video for this week, where I discuss some of the considerations and hints for creating a good trademark. Like all marketing and branding exercises, you need to do some good market research so that you can know what your competition...
For new start-up companies or small business, establishing a brand is necessary. Establishing a brand takes time, effort, and probably a bit of money. But when it comes to establishing a brand that may be trademarked, it is vitally important to consider whether your potential...