Trademark Surveillance Is A Necessity
Not only is your trademark one of your businesses most valuable assets, you need to protect it through registration and keep an eye out for offending usage.
- Goodwill and reputation are valuable assets of your business.
- Goodwill and reputation are bound to your trademark.
- You receive far more protection by filing a trademark registration.
- Register your trademark as early as possible.
- Contact a qualified trademark attorney to ensure your registration is done correctly.
Trademark surveillance is as important as registering your trademark in the first place. You need to register it and protect it from offending use.
Goodwill and Reputation are Valuable Assets for Your Business
Brand abuse does not, necessarily, mean counterfeiting. Trademark infringement can be equally damaging. Goodwill and reputation associated with the products and services of your company can tempt others into cashing in.
Trademarks Must be Registered on a Country-by-Country Basis
Unfortunately, there is no worldwide registration of trademarks. With rare exceptions, trademarks must be registered on a country-by country basis. Generally, the person registering the trademark should consider registering the trademarks as soon as possible in every jurisdiction considered for possible expansion.
There are Significant Benefits to Trademark Registration
In almost every legal jurisdiction in the world, there are very significant benefits that flow from trademark registration. With some limited exceptions for prior users in a number of countries, trademark registration will usually provide the registering party with the exclusive right to use the trademark in a particular jurisdiction for the goods or services covered by the registration.
Surveillance is Necessary for Trademarks
Trademark offices in many countries do not perform a trademark search for prior registrations, and in those that do, the process is not always accurate. Furthermore, no country will search for or cite the rights of prior users. However, we need not look solely, to other countries to illustrate this problem. It also appears in the form of the respective Secretary’s of State approving corporate formation under names, which hold federally secured trademarks. Accordingly, constant surveillance is necessary.
The Best Protection is Early Registration
While there are potential remedies for the owner of a trademark with international fame, if someone beats them to the filing process, such remedies are usually difficult to obtain.
Whether you have a trademark registration you want filed, you have received a cease and desist or you need to send one or whether you are on either side of a trademark infringement case, you will want to consult with a trademark attorney who can protect your rights.
Contact an attorney with Veritas Business Law, LLC for a free consultation.
