Newark, New Jersey Businesses Use Cohn Legal for Trademark Services
Cohn Legal is a startup and trademark legal firm that provides service to clients in Newark, New Jersey, throughout the United States, and around the globe. Cohn Legal attorneys operate with the singular goal of acting as your legal consigliere, continuously giving you the best legal advice and strategies to protect your trademarks and intellectual property.
Top 9 Questions Newark Businesses Have About Obtaining a Trademark
What is a trademark?
A trademark is a branding tool which pairs a branding device (name, logo, slogan, sound, motion) with the sale of a product or service.
Will hiring a trademark attorney improve my chances of getting my trademark approved?
Hiring a trademark attorney can increase your chances of getting your trademark application approved because your attorney knows the ins and outs of the system.
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 you’ve submitted your application will be handled by your attorney.
Does my business need more than one trademark?
Many businesses will need to submit more than one trademark application. For example, you may want to obtain one application for your business name, another for your logo, and a third for the name of your product. The trademark attorneys at Cohn Legal can help you determine which pieces of intellectual property will need trademark protection.
What’s the difference between the ® and TM symbols?
Use of the ® symbol is reserved for those pieces of intellectual property that are trademarked at the federal level. You may not use that symbol unless you have trademark protection at the federal level.
The TM symbol can be used any time, even if you haven’t filed a trademark application yet. However, the TM symbol has very little legal significance.
Can I Oppose Someone’s trademark after it’s been approved by the USPTO?
Yes. Trademark Oppositions happen at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) and allow individuals who believe that they will be harmed (from the perspective of trademark infringement) by the admission of the new mark to protest registration.
How long does it take to register a trademark?
Once your application is submitted to the USPTO, it can take anywhere from 6 to 8 months to get your trademark approved. In some cases, the process can take more than a year.
There are certain circumstances in which the USPTO will allow the application process to be expedited. You can request an expedited application process in matters of litigation, when there’s the possibility of trademark infringement, or when there exists a need to get a U.S. trademark to obtain a registration in a foreign country.
If any of these scenarios apply to you then it’s best to consult with a trademark attorney who can advise you on what steps you should take to request expedited processing.
Will my U.S. trademark will protect my brand in other countries?
If registered with the USPTO, your trademark only protects your brand within the United States. If you want to protect your brand in foreign countries, then you need to apply for trademark registration within those countries. Please contact a trademark attorney for assistance with getting international trademark protection.
What is the Official Gazette?
The Official Gazette (OG) is a USPTO publication. It’s released every Tuesday and includes information about the latest trademarks that have been approved. Once a trademark is published in the Official Gazette, any individual has 30 days to come forward and oppose the trademark. If no one opposes the trademark, then it is officially registered.
What is TEAS?
TEAS stands for the Trademark Electronic Application System. This online portal enables you to submit your trademark application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office and pay your application fees.
Why Trademark Registration Matters for Newark Businesses
Newark is an exciting city that has world-class entertainment and attractions. It’s quickly becoming one of the most visited state capitols in America.
Entrepreneurs have certainly noticed how popular Newark has become, which has led to new businesses popping up all over the downtown area. In an effort to be frugal, new business owners may skip the trademark registration process, but that could prove to be a costly error.
Imagine the following: Justine and her brother John have lived in Newark for 10 years. They have both worked at breweries for years, but now they want to start their own, independent microbrewery.
The siblings pool their money and decide that they’ll have just enough money to get their new venture off the ground. They decide to call it J&J Brewing Company. Justine wonders if they should get the name trademarked, but John says they have more important things to spend their money on and they can get to trademark registration later.
The siblings get to work and over the next 6 months, they lease space, hire employees, design a website, create a marketing plan, and do about a thousand other things. Finally, they are ready for their grand opening.
Their microbrewery is a smash hit. People love their beer. Unfortunately for Justine and John, they are about to get some upsetting news in the form of a cease-and-desist letter. Another brewery in Roseville called JJ’s Brewing Company has recently opened. They’ve trademarked their name and are worried that the name J&J Brewing Company is too close to their own and may cause confusion among customers.
Justine and John can either comply with the demands of the letter or face potential legal issues.
This could have been avoided if the siblings had worked with a trademark attorney and conducted a proper trademark search before doing anything else.
Trademark registration is an essential step for any new business. 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 Newark and yet it can assist businesses from New Jersey in registering a federal Trademark because trademarks are governed under federal law.
Trademarks Services for Newark 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.