Trademarking Your Business Name Trademarks identify and distinguish the source of goods from those sold or manufactured by others. Service marks are essentially the same except that they identify and distinguish the source of a service rather than a product. A trademark can be a word, phrase, symbol or design, or combination of words, phrases, symbols or designs. Rights to a trademark derive either from: a.) the actual use of the mark, or b.) the filing of an application to register with the United States Patent and Trademark Office stating bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce. Unlike patents or copyrights, trademark rights can last indefinitely as long as the mark is being used to identify specific goods or services. Initial registration lasts 10 years and renewal is possible every ten years thereafter. A specific affidavit must be filed only once between the 5th and 6th year after the initial registration in order to keep the registration alive. While it is not necessary or obligatory to register a trademark, there are several advantages and benefits that make registration a good idea: (1) Nationwide notice of the trademarks owner claim; (2) Evidence of ownership of the trademark; (3) Jurisdiction of federal courts may be invoked; and (4) Registration can be used as a basis for obtaining registration in foreign countries. Registration may be filed with the U.S. Customs Service to prevent importation of infringing foreign goods. Searching to determine that no one else is using a specific mark in any particular areas of the economy can be done through TESS (Trademark Electronic Search System), a database that includes all registered and pending trademarks. TESS is available at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website. Information about forms, application fees, and electronic filing can also be found at the USPTO Web site. Category Listings U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Crystal Plaza 3, Room 2C02, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313 USA Tel 800-786-9199, Fax 703-305-7786 Email: [email protected] The UK Patent Office Room 3.R09, Concept House, Newport, South Wales NP10 8QQ, UK Tel +44(0)1633-813930, Fax +44(0)1633-813600 Email: [email protected] Hong Kong Trademark Office 24/F, We Chung House, 213 Queens Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong Tel (+852)2803-5860 Email: [email protected] Canadian Intellectual Property Office Place du Portage I, 50 Victoria Street, Room C229, Gaineau, Quebec, K1A 0C9, Canada Tel 819-997-1936, Fax 819-953-7620 Email: [email protected] IP Australia Discovery House, 47 Bowes Street, Woden ACT 2606 Australia Tel (+61) 2-6283-2999, Fax (+61) 2-6283-7999 Email: [email protected] China Trademark Database No. 100028 Mailbox, 41 Branch, Beijing, China Tel (+86)10-646-30200, Fax (+86)10-646-39201 International Trademark Association 1133 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036 USA Tel 212-768-9887, Fax 212-768-7796 TrademarkBots 5100 Tamiami Trail North, Suite 105 Tel 239-434-3850, Fax 239-642-9115
Posted on: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 04:06:54 +0000
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