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When Should You Register Your Company’s Trademarks?

Lightbulb in box, trademark, register, IdeaWhen you start a new business, one of the most important steps you can take to ensure its success is to protect your company’s intellectual property. This includes your start-up’s name, logo, inventions or trade secrets. As for the timing, you should register your company’s trademarks as quickly as possible.

There are many benefits of registering your business’s trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office:

  • You save time and money by having your trademark researched early before investing in it
  • Registering early ensures that you will not violate an existing trademark
  • your application will not be denied for being “confusingly similar”
  • A federal registration provides notice to the public of your claim of ownership of the mark
  • Your business will have the right to use the federal registration symbol ®
  • The registration creates a legal presumption of your company’s exclusive right to use the mark nationwide
  • By registering a mark, you have the ability to file a legal action concerning the mark in federal court
  • A U.S. registration can be used as a basis for obtaining a registration in foreign countries
  • You can record the registration with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service to prevent importation of infringing foreign goods
  • Registration prevents infringers from claiming ignorance of the mark

For a start-up company, the most important trademarks to protect are your business’s name and/or logo. If your mark has not been used in commerce, we can help you file an “intent to use” trademark application to safeguard your marks until your business starts operating. We can also help you properly register your trademarks and ensure your business is protected.

If you are interested in learning more about how to protect your start-up company’s intangible assets, contact us for help. We are located in Sacramento County, and serve clients throughout California.

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