Trademark Symbols Explained: ®, ™, and ℠ for Business Owners You spot a small ® next to a company logo. Across the street, another business uses ™ on its sign. Same idea, right? Not quite. These trademark symbols carry very different legal weight, and using the wrong one can weaken your brand protection or even land you in trouble with …
Legal mistakes startup business make: 8 costly pitfalls to avoid
The most common legal mistakes startup business make include selecting the wrong business entity, failing to formalize founder agreements, using generic contracts, and ignoring intellectual property protections. By addressing these foundational legal steps early, founders can prevent costly disputes, avoid regulatory fines, and protect their personal assets from business liabilities. Starting a new company requires balancing product development, marketing, and …
What Happens When You Sell Your Name?-The Hidden IP Risks of Business Sales
Selling Your Business Name? Know the IP Risks First When your personal name is also your business name, selling that business may mean permanently surrendering the right to use your own name commercially. Understanding the intellectual property risks of selling a business name—before you sign—can protect your identity, your future ventures, and your earning potential. Building a business from the …
What Legal Aspects Should I Consider When Naming My Business?
Naming your business is one of the most exciting steps in creating your brand identity, but it’s also a critical moment for making smart legal decisions. The name you choose will represent your company in the marketplace—for better or worse. What many new business owners don’t realize is that choosing a name without considering legal factors can lead to trademark …
What’s the Difference Between a State Trademark and a Federal Trademark?
If you’re a small business owner or entrepreneur, protecting your brand should be a top priority. Trademarks are a critical step in safeguarding your logo, slogan, business name, and other identifying assets. However, when choosing between a state trademark and a federal trademark, many are unsure which path to take. Both have their merits, but they serve different purposes depending …
How a Lawyer Can Protect Your Business’s Trade Secrets
Your business’s trade secrets are key components of your company’s success and profitability. Trade Secrets are unique assets that hold intrinsic value and competitive advantage. Therefore, it’s necessary to safeguard them at all costs to avoid potential breaches by competitors, employees or hackers. Hiring a lawyer is one of the best ways to protect your business’s trade secrets and confidential …
Protecting Your Business’ Trade Secrets
Trade secrets are perhaps the most valuable assets any company can have. They give businesses an edge over competitors, keep customers loyal, and help maintain a company’s brand or reputation. Trade secrets are a combination of confidential information, including processes, formulas, designs, and methods that give companies a competitive advantage. Furthermore, it is essential to protect these trade secrets to …
The Benefits of Working with a Trademark Attorney
Filing a trademark application is an important step in the process of protecting your intellectual property. While you can file the application on your own, it’s highly recommended that you seek the assistance of a trademark attorney to ensure that everything is done correctly and efficiently. Here’s why it’s important to have a trademark attorney help you with your trademark …
Can I Trademark the Zia?
Us New Mexicans are well aware of the ZIA. It appears on our State flag, in the design of the State capital building in Santa Fe, and is used in numerous other places, by both the government and private entities. But most importantly, the Zia symbol belongs to the Zia Pueblo, and is a sacred religious symbol, having been used …
I Received an Office Action for My Trademark Application.
What do I do now? Oftentimes, an office action will be issued by the USPTO after you’ve filed your trademark with one or more rejections. An office action will ostensibly always have a response deadline of 6 months. Some of the rejections are non-substantive whereby the mark is not necessarily rejected, but a response must be submitted in order for …
