Trademark Lawyer Raleigh NC: What are Trademarks?

Trademarks and service marks are valuable pieces of intellectual property that help consumers identify your goods and services. They also help you distinguish your goods and services from those of your competitors. Trademarks are often a logo or a symbol that you have created to mark (or brand) you goods. A service mark is often a slogan or catch phrase that is associated with you goods or services. As you consider applying for a trademark, there are some questions that you should ask yourself.  How can I protect my trademark in Raleigh, North Carolina?  How do I know if my trademark deserves protection?  How do I know if anyone else is using my trademark?  How do I register my trademark? A trademark lawyer Raleigh NC can help you get the job done.

You should know that a trademark lawyer in Raleigh, NC can help you answer all of these questions and help you decide is applying for a registered trademark is right for you. Trademark registration is a complicated process.  First, a trademark lawyer will perform a diligent search for similar marks that are already in use. This search through the United States Patent and Trademark Office as well as some state offices will ensure that your mark is original and will not infringe on the marks belonging to your competitors. After the search is clear, your trademark attorney will analyze your mark to determine if it deserves protection, which means that it meets certain criteria for distinctiveness. Only marks with certain distinction are eligible for registration and an application for a generic mark will likely be turned down. Finally, if you haven’t hired a trademark lawyer in Raleigh, NC by this point, you should consider hiring one to help you complete the registration process, which requires specific knowledge about trademarks.

Once registered, your mark is protected from use by your competitors. Only you can use it on your goods and services and the mark remains yours so long as you continue to use it and protect it from infringement.  Hire a trademark lawyer in Raleigh, NC today, to make sure your mark is protected