
Trademark Attorney Services
for Long Beach CA
Companies.
Speak With An Attorney Now!









WE'RE
IN
THE
NEWS
Long Beach, California Businesses Use Cohn Legal for Trademark Services
* Cohn Legal, PLLC is not located in Long Beach and yet it can assist businesses from California in registering a federal Trademark because trademarks are governed under federal law.
Cohn Legal, PLLC specializes in intellectual property protection and corporate law for startups, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. Serving clients in Long Beach, California,our trademark attorneys absolutely love helping companies protect their brand names and logos. On the most fundamental level, our goal is to provide our clients with exceptional legal guidance and support at cost-effective rates.
Top 8 Questions Long Beach Businesses Have About Obtaining a Trademark
Who needs a trademark?
Any current business owners or anyone in the process of starting a business should register their trademarks with the USPTO. A trademark will protect your brand from infringement.
Why should I work with an attorney to register a trademark?
There is no requirement that you work with an attorney to register a trademark, but doing so has many benefits. First, your trademark attorney will conduct a comprehensive trademark search to ensure that no one has already registered a mark that’s similar to your desired mark. Then, your attorney can submit a complete and accurate trademark application to the USPTO on your behalf. Any inquiries from the USPTO about your mark after the application submission will be handled by your attorney.
Best of all, with your attorney handling these tasks, you’ll have more time to focus on growing your business.
Is a Google search the best way to determine if the trademark I want is available?
Google searches, or any online search for that matter, should not be used to determine if someone else has the name or logo you want. Online searches will usually only reveal exact matches to your business name, product name, or slogan, but you also want to know who out there has a trademark that is very similar to the name you want, which may not come up in a search. Also, an online search won’t reveal which trademarks are pending approval with the USPTO. Contact a trademark attorney who can help you conduct a thorough search of existing and pending trademarks and give clear guidance on the availability of your desired trademark.
Will the USPTO let me know if a third party is infringing on my registered trademark?
The USPTO will register your trademark, but they won’t police its use or take action if someone is infringing upon your mark. It is entirely your responsibility as the owner of the mark to scan the market for infringement and take legal action when necessary. Most trademark attorneys, including Cohn Legal, offer trademark monitoring services and will alert you when possible infringement occurs and provide advice on how to handle it.
What is a fanciful trademark?
Fanciful trademarks are marks which are typically made up and only have meaning when applied to a specific product or service. Examples of fanciful trademarks include Netflix, Exxon, and Pepsi.
Can generic terms receive trademark protection?
The USPTO won’t allow anyone to trademark generic terms. For example, you can’t register the word “jeans” as the brand name of your jean company. If you were allowed to do that, it would prevent all other jeans manufacturers from using the word, which is unfair and unreasonable. All jeans manufacturers should have the right to use the generic term.
You can however use a generic term as part of larger trademarked name. For example, “Gino’s Jeans” or “New Generation Jeans” may be acceptable trademarks.
What is an examining attorney?
An examining attorney is an individual at the USPTO who thoroughly evaluates trademark applications and searches the USPTO database for similar marks. The examiner will accept the application and approve it, reject it outright, or request additional information and details before making a final decision.
What should I register first: the name of my business or my logo?
If you can, try to trademark both your business name and logo using separate trademark applications at the same time. If you have to prioritize, then trademark the name of your business first. Then, register the logo.
Some business owners try to save money by registering just the logo, especially if it contains the name of their business. However, we don’t recommend this because if you want to change the design of your logo, then you risk losing trademark protection for the name of your business.
When in doubt, consult with a trademark attorney who can advise you on an appropriate trademark strategy.
Additional Information on Trademark Registration for Long Beach Businesses
If you’re in the Long Beach area and you’re ready to start a business of your own, you likely have a lot of questions: Where should I set up shop? What type of marketing plan is most effective? Should I offer online sales? Do I need a registered trademark? All of those questions are important, but the question around trademark registration may be the most important as you start your new venture.
Consider this scenario: Ray is a health food lover and has a degree in nutrition. He sees a need in the market for a truly healthy protein bar that has no chemicals or additives in it. He spends a year developing the protein bar that he’s always wanted to see in the market.
He’s perfected the formula and is ready to start manufacturing and selling his new “Clean Protein” bars. A friend of his recommended that Ray looking into trademark registration. Ray knows that’s important, but he’s got so many other things to take care of, he’s decided to wait until things calm down a bit.
The Clean Protein bar is a hit. A number of health food stores and gyms are stocking the product. In addition, Ray is selling his bars across the country through his website. Unfortunately, after 6 months of brisk sales, Ray received a cease-and-desist letter in the mail. It turns out that a nutrition company in New Jersey has been selling a product called “Clean Protein” powder for about 5 years now. They registered their trademark right away so they are well within their rights to ask Ray to stop selling his bars under the name Clean Protein.
Now Ray must come up with a new name, redesign his website, print new wrappers, plus recall any bars that are currently on store shelves. This will all take significant time and money on Ray’s part. He could have avoided all of this had he registered his mark right from the start.
Whether you’re just starting to write your business plan or you’ve been selling your products and services for a while, the time to register your trademark is now. Contact the attorneys at Cohn Legal for a complimentary trademark consultation. We specialize in startups and have a cost-effective fee structure.
Trademarks Services for Long Beach 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.