At some point, we all saw a product or business name with a small, wraparound R float next to it. You may want to know what this R symbol means and how it is implemented. Most people will tell you that it means the effect of "registration", but this is only a small part of the meaning behind the circle R.
This symbol does mean that the word is registered correctly, but who is registered and how to register?
"Registered Trademark" or ® means the name, slogan or logo that has been officially registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office [USPTO]. A registered trademark is beneficial to the business because it publicly declares that your trademark is registered with the USPTO, so you have the exclusive right to the name in the industry. This means that if your business has a registered trademark and you find another business of a similar nature using your name or logo, you may have the legal right to use your name!
Each time an individual applies for a trademark, the USPTO cross-references its name and/or design to determine similarities. from
Federal registered or pending trademarks onlyfrom
. The United States Patent and Trademark Office lacks search in national trademarks and US common law databases. Because the USPTO protects names in this way, you don't risk taking another business and potentially polluting the reputation of the company you're trying to build!
After applying for a trademark, the USPTO will consider the trademark as long as 18 months. This is one of the many reasons why you apply for a trademark as soon as possible and then apply for a trademark. The sooner you apply, the sooner you start a business with a registered protected name!
*This depends on whether the name is actually available at the time of submission. In other words, is there a pre-existing federal or state trademark? Is there a common name used before?
Orignal From: What is a trademark?
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