1. Trademark Registration for Asset Protection Katherine Sunstrom Attorney at Law ksunstrom@sunstromlaw.com 1
2. What is a trademark? A distinctive word, phrase, sign or indicator used by a legal entity to set its products or services apart from others in the mind of the consumer. Examples that can be entitled to trademark protection: words, symbols, logos, pictures, smells, sounds, and (arguably) taste and textures. 2
3. What is the purpose of a trademark? As stated above, to set yourself and your goods or services apart from others. As Tracey has said before, you want to occupy a larger space in the brains of your audience so that they recall you and your goodwill faster and more accurately. Should be a part of your branding strategy. Effective branding almost always results in trademark rights- huzzah! 3
5. How do you get common law trademark protection? What do you get? First user. Consistent use in commerce in conjunction with goods and services. Interstate versus Intrastate. Distinctiveness (more on this later). Right to exclude others from confusingly similar use. Geographic rights. Target market, channels of trade rights. 5
6. Federal Registration, why do I want one? Prevent others from encroaching on your goodwill. Nation-wide Priority User Prevent others from using and registering similar marks After 5 years of consistent use; becomes incontestable Statutory remedies Notification- Constructive notice of your exclusive rights ® next to your trademark=legitimacy Deterrent to infringers: “Beware of Dog” 6
7. Federal Registration, why do I want one? Becomes a valuable asset for your company Makes the intangible asset of your company’s goodwill more concrete. Can increase your ability to quantify that asset. Can use comparables. Allows you to transfer that goodwill via sale or license for $$. Domain name protection and internet advertising. you have almost nothing without a registration. 7
8. Registration Process Availability Search and Opinion Letter Prevent infringement upon other’s marks Future defense against “willfulness.” Deterrent against litigation. Application to the USPTO Examination Exchange with Examiners Registration issues Management of your asset. Contracts and licenses Policing your mark Trademark notices Periodic filings to keep registration 8
14. Unusual Trademark Registrations Sound: NBC Chimes Spoken letters “AT&T” THX “Deep note” Harley Davidson engine roar- DENIED Scent: Plumeria scent for embroidery thread Chanel No. 5- DENIED Tactile: the word UNDERBERG in braille. Taste: No known registration but case law suggests it is possible if strongly distinctive. Orange flavor for cough syrup: rejected. 14
15. Questions? Katherine L. Sunstrom Attorney at Law 1501-A W. 18th Street #18 Houston, Texas 77008 713.502.3049 ksunstrom@sunstromlaw.com The text of this work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 license, to view a copy of this license visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ 15
16. Credits Obama photo by StijenVogels on flickr and licensed under the Creative Commons license found at: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en Head lock photo by vegas_nitro on flickr and licensed under the Creative Commons license found at: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en Laptop sticker photo by trozbo on flickr and licensed under the Creative Commons license found at: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en All other images used by permission. 16
