How to trademark your identity?

Trademarking your identity is a procedure like any other. The process involves preparation and due diligence from the onset to avoid complicated and expensive matters later. Once you learn and understand trademarks and how they can serve your needs, you must finalize your distinctive sign, image, or logo and prepare for researching the relevant art. It's important to discover existing trademarks to make sure you are not infringing on another entity's protected identity. If so, you might be on the losing side of a law suit. Therefore, it's important to determine from the onset prior to venturing down the trademark path what other trademarks exist. Most people will hire patent agencies that charge a fee for a trademark search. We recommend RG Patent Consulting, a professional patent agency in Scottsdale, AZ that offers professional trademark searching services at competitive rates. Click here to learn more.

What is a trademark?

A trademark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by a legal entity (such as an individual or a business organization) that identifies the entity's products or services in the consumer market. Trademarks are useful for brand name recognition, establishing reputability, and subliminal marketing. The goal of a successful trademark is to become a recognizable face for the entity. (Find image of TM logo .png and insert)

A trademark is designated by the following symbols:

• ™ (for an unregistered trade mark, that is, a mark used to promote or brand goods)
• ℠ (for an unregistered service mark, that is, a mark used to promote or brand services)
• ® (for a registered trademark)

A trademark is typically a name, word, phrase, logo, symbol, design, image, or a combination of these elements.

Trademarks fall in two categories: registered marks and common law marks

A registered trademark is a trademark that has been registered, authenticated, and issued by the United States Patent Trademark Office (USPTO).

A common law trademark is an unregistered image or brand that has been publicly disclosed and known to the consuming market as being associated with a specific entity. Common law trademarks are often restricted by geography and modernly most entity's file for trademarks as to avoid any future issues regarding infringement.