We may think that recording intellectual property (IP) ownership rights are a fairly recent event it is not. Even the Romans stamped bricks to show their sign of ownership. Trademark law is quite ancient going out back to the year 1266 in England. The old law known as the "bakers marking law" used to indicate the maker of a loaf of bread. Each baker would have their own registered mark.
Trademark law is very well established world-wide. It is still flouted in some developing countries but that is the joy of the jungle. Most established businesses these days have trademark protection or are in the process of getting protection. Most people think that you have to legally register a mark to be able to use it but the opposite is true. You register a mark so that others cannot use it! When you register a trademark you gain the unique right to be the only one to use the mark or to control who can use it.
A trademark is a specific mark that permits customers to distinguish you without seeing your product. It is a unique part of your brand. Tests have shown that you can display just part of a noted trademark and people know which brand it belongs to. This demonstrates the power of a good image and how the brain works atremembering such things. This is why it is important to legally protect important marks and words.
You do not need to legally register a mark to own it and stop others using it but like most things in the arena of law - the one who holds the papers first wins! Registration legally specifies the date of ownership beyond any sense of doubt. In some countries common law gives some protective cover but at the end of the day you have more security if you engage trademark lawyers to protect key IP.
These days you can self-register a trademark but there are inherent risks of doing this of course. Trademarks lawyers of course know how to register and how to protect possession if the rights are abused. They know the full story of registration and protection. If you self-register you may get a cheap registration but you may have left a loop-hole for somebody to misuse your rights later on.
Registration of trademarks can be done in one or more countries. Presently there is no such thing as a global trademark. You have to register in all the countries where you need protection.
Registration has become simpler over the recent years with the creation of systems like the Madrid System of International Registration of Marks through the World Intellectual Property Organization, Geneva, Switzerland but international registration is still a boring and fairly high-priced process.
Of course the benefits of registering a trademark outweigh the costs and challenges. If you are focused about your company you should be looking into at registration today.
Trademark law is very well established world-wide. It is still flouted in some developing countries but that is the joy of the jungle. Most established businesses these days have trademark protection or are in the process of getting protection. Most people think that you have to legally register a mark to be able to use it but the opposite is true. You register a mark so that others cannot use it! When you register a trademark you gain the unique right to be the only one to use the mark or to control who can use it.
A trademark is a specific mark that permits customers to distinguish you without seeing your product. It is a unique part of your brand. Tests have shown that you can display just part of a noted trademark and people know which brand it belongs to. This demonstrates the power of a good image and how the brain works atremembering such things. This is why it is important to legally protect important marks and words.
You do not need to legally register a mark to own it and stop others using it but like most things in the arena of law - the one who holds the papers first wins! Registration legally specifies the date of ownership beyond any sense of doubt. In some countries common law gives some protective cover but at the end of the day you have more security if you engage trademark lawyers to protect key IP.
These days you can self-register a trademark but there are inherent risks of doing this of course. Trademarks lawyers of course know how to register and how to protect possession if the rights are abused. They know the full story of registration and protection. If you self-register you may get a cheap registration but you may have left a loop-hole for somebody to misuse your rights later on.
Registration of trademarks can be done in one or more countries. Presently there is no such thing as a global trademark. You have to register in all the countries where you need protection.
Registration has become simpler over the recent years with the creation of systems like the Madrid System of International Registration of Marks through the World Intellectual Property Organization, Geneva, Switzerland but international registration is still a boring and fairly high-priced process.
Of course the benefits of registering a trademark outweigh the costs and challenges. If you are focused about your company you should be looking into at registration today.
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