Chandler, Arizona Businesses Use Cohn Legal for Trademark Services
Cohn Legal, PLLC specializes in intellectual property protection and trademark law for startups and entrepreneurs in Chandler Arizona. Our trademark attorneys relish the opportunity to help companies build their brands and ensure they are protected from infringement. At Cohn Legal Group, our goal is to provide our clients with exceptional service at cost-effective rates.
Top 7 Questions Chandler Businesses Have About Obtaining a Trademark
What is meant by the term “trademark specimen”?
The USPTO will ask for a trademark specimen as part of your trademark application. A trademark specimen is an example of how your mark will be used in the “real world” or how consumers will see it.
For products, acceptable specimens may include product labels, packaging materials, tags, or instruction manuals that contain the mark. For services, you can use brochures, flyers, advertisements, and websites as specimens.
If you are not sure what specimen you should submit, then contact the attorneys at Cohn Legal Group for assistance.
Why is my priority date important?
The date that your trademark application is submitted to the USPTO is your priority date. If, after that date, another person seeks to register a trademark that is similar to yours then the USPTO will give your application priority.
Will the USPTO inform me if my trademark is being infringed upon?
The USPTO isn’t responsible for letting you know if another entity is infringing upon your trademark. The role of the USPTO is to approve or deny trademark applications and keep records of all approved and pending marks.
Ensuring that your mark isn’t being infringed upon is solely your responsibility. You may want to hire a trademark attorney who can monitor the marketplace on your behalf, identify potential incidents of infringement, and present you with the best solutions.
Why should I hire a trademark attorney?
Hiring a trademark attorney is a wise decision for any business owner. A trademark attorney can handle many tasks that you may be too busy to take care of, such as:
- Determining if your desired trademark is eligible for trademark protection.
- Filing a trademark application with the USPTO.
- Selecting an appropriate trademark specimen.
- Responding to Office Actions you may receive.
- Fighting challenges others may bring against you.
- Helping you understand your rights and how to protect them.
Can I receive trademark protection for a generic term?
The USPTO won’t allow generic terms to receive trademark protection. The USPTO doesn’t allow this because if one person owned the trademark to a generic term, it would prevent all other manufacturers from using the word, which is unfair and unreasonable.
For example, you wouldn’t be able to register the word “shirts” as the name of your shirt manufacturing company. However, you could possibly include the word shirts in the part of a larger brand name. For example, “DL&R Shirts.”
What is TEAS?
TEAS is the Trademark Electronic Application System. You would use this online portal to submit your trademark application and pay any associated fees. It’s available 24/7, but please note that you won’t be able to submit payments between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m.
Should I register my trademark even if my business isn’t actually up and running?
You absolutely should register your trademark even if your business is not yet up and running. You can submit an application on an “intent to use” basis with the USPTO. That means you’re not using the trademark in the commercial market yet, but will be in the near future. Once you do start selling your goods, then you’ll be required to file additional documentation with the USPTO to prove that you are using the mark in the commercial market.
Why Trademark Registration Matters for Chandler Businesses
Chandler, Arizona is buzzing with activity all year long. The city provides easy access to outdoor recreation, family-friendly fun, fine dining, and a variety of cultural experiences. It’s no wonder that entrepreneurs view chandler as the ideal location to launch new ventures.
While new business owners in Chandler are eager to get their ventures off the ground, they shouldn’t skip the trademark registration process.
Imagine the following: Ruby and Evie have both received their master’s degrees in computer science from the University of Arizona. The two friends are now eager to pursue their dream of starting a software design company. They have an idea for a new type of accounting software that they think small business owners and single-operator businesses would be very interested in.
They call their new company E&R Software Development and get to work on their business plan and marketing strategy. Ruby asks Evie if they should register the name of their business with the USPTO, but Evie doesn’t think it’s necessary to do that just yet. They need to continue perfecting their product and setting up demonstrations with potential clients.
After months of work, the two friends are ready to start demoing their product to small business owners around the Chandler area. During one meeting with the president of a small grocery store chain, the women are asked if they are affiliated with the E&R Software Solutions in Flagstaff. Both women tell potential clients that they are not affiliated with that company. In fact, they’ve never heard of it.
Sure enough, a few weeks later the women receive a cease-and-desist letter in the mail from E&R Software Solutions. It turns out that the grocery store president isn’t the only small business owner who thought the similarity between the two names was confusing. The Flagstaff developer had been getting calls from other clients and they were concerned about the confusion. Since E&R Software Solutions had trademarked the name of their business, they had every right to ask that Ruby and Evie shut down their business and not reopen until they rebrand.
The two friends are devastated at this turn of events. They are not sure that they’ll have the time or money to reopen once they’ve shut down. It at this time they decide to call a trademark attorney to get advice on what to do next.
No matter how eager you may be to open your business, it’s never a good idea to overlook trademark registration. Registering your trademarks is perhaps the most important thing you can do to ensure your business is protected.
If you have questions about trademark registration, then contact the attorneys at Cohn Legal for a no-cost trademark consultation.
** Cohn Legal, PLLC is not located in Chandler and yet it can assist businesses from Arizona in registering a federal Trademark because trademarks are governed under federal law.
Trademarks Services for Chandler Businesses
Submit Your Trademark
Now in 4 Easy Steps
TRADEMARK INFORMATION
Complete the Trademark Registration Form.
PRELIMINARY SEARCH
Our IP Attorneys will run a search of your trademark in the USPTO.
TM APPLICATION
We draft your TM Application and send it to you for your Review.
USPTO
We File the Application with the USPTO.