A trademark is one your most valuable business assets that you absolutely need to protect, but you can only get full legal protection it if it’s distinctive, not descriptive. Descriptive vs. Distinctive: An Inverse Relationship A trademark is distinctive if the meaning of the words used in the mark do not describe the products or…
Demystifying Trademark Symbols
I get a lot of questions about using the TM, SM, ®, and © symbols. Trademark symbols can be confusing, but don’t them intimidate you. Here are four things you should know about how to use trademark symbols to protect your brand and business. 1. What the Trademark Symbols Are There are three commonly used…
3 Biggest Differences Between the Principal Register and Supplemental Register for Trademarks
You have a business and you want to protect your brand with a trademark so no one else can use it. After all, if another company in your industry starts to use the same brand name as you, consumers could be confused. You don’t want them to think a competitor’s inferior products and services come…
10-Point Checklist to Start Your Business the Right Way
Starting a business is an exciting time of your life, and just like any other part of your life, you need to take the right steps or you’ll be far more likely to fail. Or worse, you could find yourself in a heap of legal trouble that could have been avoided if you’d taken the…
Demystifying Copyright Symbols
Be confused no more! I’m about to take the guesswork out of how to create and use a proper copyright notice. You see copyright symbols all the time but may not be sure what the symbol really means. The copyright symbol, the letter C in a circle, or ©, may be used for any “original…
How to Minimize Risk to Your Trade Secrets When Employees Leave
I’m sure you’ve worked very hard to build your business, and you’ve probably spent a lot of time, energy, and money into developing processes, policies, and strategies that enable you to create and sell your products or services. But what happens when a key employee who knows the ins and outs of those processes, policies,…