Selecting and registering a trademark is a great way to protect your business and your creative endeavors. These marks ensure that no one can legally use your creations without your express permission and helps you prove ownership of your creative work. But for your trademark to be fully enforceable, you’ll need to register it correctly. If you’re not careful, you may end up making mistakes during that process which can slow your registration down. Here are some of the most common mistakes that your Nashville trademark law attorney wants you to avoid.
1. Not Doing Due Diligence
When registering a trademark, you need to make sure it’s completely unique and unlike anything else in your industry that’s already in use and already trademarked. This means doing research into other trademarks and comparing the ones that are already registered against the one you’re hoping to register for yourself. If you fail to verify that your trademark is unique, your application could be denied.
2. Filling Out the Forms Incorrectly
Part of registering a trademark means providing detailed information about the item you’re trademarking and your business. Making even a single mistake on the forms can make registration take longer than it should. As you fill things out, take your time and make sure you’re entering everything correctly and to the best of your ability. If you have any questions while you’re filling things out, be sure to get help from an experienced Nashville trademark law attorney.
3. Choosing the Wrong Registration Class
Trademarks are categorized by industry and choosing the wrong registration class can leave your business vulnerable and may delay the registration process. Think about the industry you operate in and how the product you’re trademarking fits into that business. For example, if you’re trademarking a t-shirt, you shouldn’t try to trademark that shirt design as an automotive good. If you’re not sure what class to register your trademark as, speak with an attorney.
4. Not Monitoring Your Application Status
It’s always a good idea to stay on top of your application’s status throughout the process. This way, you’ll be able to address delays or issues that pop up as soon as they happen rather than waiting for several weeks. Get in the habit of checking your application status once every couple of weeks. And if you see anything of concern, try to correct the issue as soon as possible.
5. Not Consulting With a Nashville Trademark Law Attorney
Registering trademarks can take a lot of time away from your ability to run your business and produce new creative works. That’s why it’s so important to work with an experienced trademark law attorney from the very beginning. They can help with everything from background research to filing for registration on your behalf.
Get the Legal Help You Need
If you’re thinking of registering a trademark, don’t try to navigate the process on your own. Work with an experienced Nashville trademark law attorney at Brassel Law. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.