Registering Trade Mark: it is rather easy

When registering trade mark, make sure you file it so it will cover the existing market and any future market you may expand into. Once this is determined, you must become aware if there is any existing trademark that is similar to what you wish to protect.

The search for similar trademarks can be conducted for the American market at the United States Patent and Trademark Office Website. If you are in the United Kingdom, the appropriate place is the Intellectual Property Office.

Some of the most commonly asked questions include what is a trademark. This is a word, phrase, symbol or design, or any combination of them to represent or identify a company or product.

Is it a requirement by law to register a trademark? No, but it is advised. The reason being is that with a federal trademark registration, you have the legal ownership of said mark. There will be a public notice that you own that mark. You will have the right and ability to bring court action against any unauthorized use of the trademark. This also prevents any foreign or domestic business to import any product with your trademark on it.

The filing of a US trademark is also the basis for filing in other markets like the EU.

To file for a trademark in the US, the Trademark Electronic application System should be used. This is available on the USPTO website. Filing can be done 24 hours a day, 7 days a week except from Saturday 11pm till Sunday at 6 am. This is so the data base can be updated.

The standard cost of registering trade mark with the USPTO is $15.00.