A trademark is a image, phrase or sound employed by an individual or business to identify themselves or their goods. In the community of business and marketing, a trademark can be a significant source of promotion. Many businesses have increased their success significantly by employing a good or snappy trademark. Some trademarks were started more than a century ago and still function to market their business as a familiar face in advertising.
In order to protect the use of trademarks, trademark law was established. Trademark law covers the specific goods and services of a company, but not a particular technology. Trademark law is comparable to branding; where there may be several kinds of athletic shoes available, only one is permitted to possess the trademarked Nike swoosh as its brand.
Trademarks include the visual, textual or audible brand of a company or person. The Nike swoosh logo, McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It” slogan, and the sound of the NBC chimes are all trademark instances. If any other entity tries to use them without agreement, the trademark owner has the right to start a lawsuit under trademark law.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office typically leaves the regulating and enforcement of trademarks up to the trademark owner. The USPTO serves more as a verification means when trademark law is breached. Once the trademark is verified with the USPTO the office can confirm that the trademark is legally legitimate and held by the owner.
If a trademark owner discovers their property is being violated under trademark law, they first ought to send a “cease and desist” order to the violating entity. If the letter is ignored, the trademark owner can benefit from the help of trademark attorneys with experience in filing lawsuits for unauthorized use of trademarked materials.
A registered trademark that is deemed to have been illegally employed under trademark law may result in a reward of up to triple damages for the trademark owner. This is in addition to the trademark lawyers’ fees.
Our Los Angeles trademark legal professionals have formed lasting relationships with businesses across Los Angeles County and around the globe. Contact our Los Angeles trademark legal professionals today for experienced help with protecting your trademarks – +1 213 290 4933.
