• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Landon Technologies

Technology Support Services and Solutions

  • IT SUPPORT SERVICES
  • CYBERSECURITY
  • EDUCATIONAL
  • PRODUCT GUIDES

Mobile Menu

  • Managed IT Services
  • Cybersecurity
  • About
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Protect Your Product or Service with a Registered Trademark

By //  by CReed

Recently, Microsoft was forced to rename their online storage service from SkyDrive to OneDrive.  In July of 2013, a UK court ruled that Microsoft’s SkyDrive name infringed on the trademark owned by British Sky Broadcasting Group.  British Sky Broadcasting has channels named Sky One, Sky Sports and Sky Movies.  Because Sky also has online services, an online storage service with the name Sky was judged to be potentially confusing to customers.

registered-trademark-symbot

Whether you are starting up a new business or a new line of products or services, you need a catchy name.  You need a logo or symbol that customers will associate with your product.  How do you know whether some other company is already using the same name or trademarked design?

The best way to find out is to conduct a trademark search at the United States Patent and Trademark Office: http://www.uspto.gov/products/library/ptdl/services/tmsearch.jsp#

Besides the trademark search feature, there is other helpful information at the US Patent and Trademark Office website.  Some tips for doing a trademark search:

  • Brainstorm several alternatives to your mark in case your first choice is taken.
  • See common reasons why a mark is rejected by the USPTO, http://tess2.uspto.gov/webaka/html/Likelihood/Likelihood_of_Confusion.html
  • When doing a trademark search, use root words along with an (*) or (?) to find trademarks that use similar words to yours.
  • Pay special attention to the marks of businesses that market similar goods or services to what you provide. There is more chance of a trademark conflict when the businesses sell the same types of goods and services.
  • Check sound. Does your trademark sound similar to another, even if they are spelled differently?
  • Check appearance. Does your trademark look similar to another?
  • Look at design elements. Does your logo look similar to another?

You can also submit a trademark application online at http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/teas/index.jsp

The Trademark Office advises:

“Although not required prior to filing an application, you are encouraged to search the USPTO’s trademark database to see if any mark has already been registered or applied for that is similar to your mark and used on related products or for related services. If your search yields a mark that you think might conflict with your mark, you should then check status to see if the application or registration is still “live,” since any “dead” mark cannot be used to block a new application.”

There are several trademark infringement stories throughout history and there continue to be many suits every year.  In 1995, Proctor & Gamble, the maker of Puffs facial tissue, brought a trademark-infringement suit against Potty-Puffs, a new toilet paper for children.  In 2010, Digital Chocolate sued Zynga for using the name Mafia Wars.  Digital Chocolate said it had released a Mafia Wars game in 2004, along with three sequels through 2009, before Zynga began using the name for their game.

Don’t put money and time into marketing your brand, only to be told you must change your service or product’s name because it infringes on another’s trademark.  Do a trademark search and apply for your trademark at the US Patent and Trademark Office.

And if your new organization needs business IT Support services don’t wait, contact us today, 888-596-3998.

Filed Under: Educational

Looking for immediate answers to your questions?

You May Also Be Interested In:

Is A2hosting A Quality Hosting Provider?

How Do I Know When My Laptop Battery Needs Replacing?

Outsourced Help Desk for CPAs and Accountants

Less Common Cyberattacks for Accountants

Top 3 Considerations for Online Client Meetings

The Many Benefits of Cloud Computing for Accountants

All About Cloudways Hosting

Why You Need to Uninstall Adobe Flash Player

Bluehost: What You Need to Know

Previous Post: « 3 Social Media Pitfalls Business Owners Should Avoid
Next Post: Should You Post Your Prices On Your Website? »

Primary Sidebar

RECENT POSTS

Is A2hosting A Quality Hosting Provider?

Disclaimer: This website may contain links to affiliate …

How Do I Know When My Laptop Battery Needs Replacing?

Your laptop computer may feel like a lifeline. It has everything …

Outsourced Help Desk for CPAs and Accountants

Accountants are experts at surviving the “busy season.” Tax …

Less Common Cyberattacks for Accountants

Check the news any given day and you might see a report about …

Top 3 Considerations for Online Client Meetings

Many businesses were teleconferencing before COVID-19. After …

The Many Benefits of Cloud Computing for Accountants

The public cloud services market has grown dramatically, and, …

All About Cloudways Hosting

Disclaimer: This website may contain links to affiliate …

Why You Need to Uninstall Adobe Flash Player

All good things must come to an end – it’s inevitable with …

Bluehost: What You Need to Know

Disclaimer: This website may contain links to affiliate …

Making Telehealth Security Top Priority

The use of telehealth has been growing rapidly over the past …

Healthcare Providers Must Prepare for IT Disasters

Healthcare professionals regularly handle the worst. Whether its …

Prevent Data Silos for Business Success

The volume of data in the world was predicted by International …

Tech Help for New Year’s Resolutions

Making New Year’s resolutions is a familiar habit in the Western …

Is Healthcare Compliance Good Enough?

The healthcare industry is a top target for cybercriminals. …

Why Life is Easier With Managed Services

That smile of relief when we fix someone’s technology is a gift …

Logitech MK235 Wireless Keyboard and Mouse – Buy Now

Landon Technologies, Inc is a participant in the Amazon …

What You Need to Know About Home Automation Services

Looking for Home Automation Services? Fifteen years ago, smart …

All You Need to Know About Password Policy Best Practices

News of a big brand suffering a data breach is all too common …

Will Office 2010 Still Work After 2020 and Beyond?

The question: Will Office 2010 still work after 2020? It may …

Here Are The Best Technology Solutions for Small Business in 2021

For many of us, 2021 can’t come soon enough, and we're hoping …

Footer

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Call Us: (888) 596-3998
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm

Our Services

  • Managed IT Services
  • CyberSecurity Consulting
  • IT Support Services
  • Network Installations
  • Network Support

Areas We Service

  • California
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Make a Payment
  • Blog
  • Sitemap

Site Footer

· Copyright © 2005-2020 · Landon Technologies, Inc. ·
»
«