Richmond, Virginia Businesses Use Cohn Legal for Trademark Services

* Cohn Legal, PLLC is not located in Richmond and yet it can assist businesses from Virginia in registering a federal Trademark because trademarks are governed under federal law.

Serving Richmond, Virginia companies Cohn Legal, PLLC is a boutique law firm that focuses on providing excellence in intellectual property protection. On the most fundamental level, our goal is to provide our clients with exceptional legal guidance and support at cost-effective rates. You’ll find that our trademark attorneys have the requisite knowledge and expertise to deliver work of truly extraordinary quality.

Top 9 Questions Richmond Businesses Have About Obtaining a Trademark

What is a trademark?

A trademark is, in the simplest terms, a source identifier. It may be a word, logo, slogan, sound, and/or design that when attached to a good or service, enables a consumer to identify the company which produces the good or service.

Should I wait until I begin my business operations to file my trademark application?

There’s no need to wait until you begin business operations to file your trademark application. In fact, you should file a trademark application well before you begin business operations. You want to ensure that you have the rights to your trademark before you start creating a website, marketing materials, store signage, or anything else.

Can I still apply for a U.S. trademark if I am not a U.S. citizen?

As long as you are represented by a U.S.-licensed attorney, then you can apply for a U.S. trademark no matter where you live. ¬¬¬¬You may file as a foreign individual or as a foreign business entity.

Will the USPTO let me know if a third party is infringing on my registered trademark?

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the federal office that reviews trademark applications for eligibility and maintains records of existing and pending trademarks. Contrary to popular belief, they do not enforce trademark rights.

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.

Will my mark remain unprotected during the trademark application process?

Your trademark will not be fully protected until it has been cleared for registration by the USPTO. However, your application will have priority over any other trademark application that is filed after yours. That means, if someone tries to register a mark that is confusingly similar to yours after you’ve already submitted your application, then the USPTO will reject the other party’s application.

What can a trademark attorney do for me?

An attorney who is licensed to practice trademark law in the U.S. can help you:
• Determine if your chosen trademark can be legally protected.
• Determine the appropriate filing basis for your trademark application
• File a trademark application with the USPTO that is complete and accurate.
• Select an appropriate specimen that shows how your trademark will be used in commerce
• Respond to questions you may receive from an examining attorney.
• Understand the scope of your trademark rights and the best ways to enforce them.
• Fight challenges brought by others against your trademark.

I did an internet search for my desired trademark. Is that sufficient?

Simply conducting a trademark search to find if your desired trademark is available for use is not sufficient. Most internet searches will identify exact trademark matches, such as identical business names or identical product names. Most trademark issues, however, come from a trademark that may be similar to another but isn’t an exact match. The trademark attorneys at Cohn Legal can provide you with a much more comprehensive search that will increase the chances that your desired mark gets improved.

My competitor didn’t trademark their logo. Can I register it for myself?

You can certainly try to trademark it for yourself, but it’s not guaranteed that you will get it. Keep in mind that even though the mark has not been federally registered yet, it may be protected under “common law” rules, which gives businesses certain rights to a mark if they’ve been using it commercially but have yet to register it with the USPTO. Speak to a trademark attorney about the advantages and disadvantages of trying to register a competitor’s mark.

Can generic terms receive trademark protection?

Generic terms can never receive trademark protection. For example, you can’t register the word “shoes” as the brand name of your shoe company. If you were allowed to do that, it would prevent all other shoe manufacturers from using the word shoes, which is unfair and unreasonable.

Additional Information on Trademark Registration for Richmond Businesses

Richmond, Virginia is a wonderful city full of friendly people who love their home town. It’s an ideal location to start a new business. If you’re an entrepreneur looking to set up shop in the River City, then it’s vitally important to make sure that you consult a trademark attorney sooner rather than later. Delaying this important step could be costly in the long run.

Consider this scenario: Following their graduation at Virginia Commonwealth University, Dora and Marco decide to open their own insurance agency in the Fan District. They select the name River City Risks. Then, they sign a lease on a location, create a marketing plan, develop a website, and even get a nice sign made for their storefront. They both know that trademark registration is important and they’ve discussed it. But they agree that trademark registration isn’t a priority and that they postpone it until they are more established.

Had Dora and Marco contacted a trademark attorney to conduct a proper trademark search, then they would have realized that another insurance company in Mississippi had the same name. Customers of the Mississippi company were confused when they saw two businesses with the same name. Because the Mississippi owners registered their name with the USPTO, they are well within their rights to ask Dora and Marco to stop using the name. The two friends find a cease-and-desist letter in their mailbox demanding that they close down and reopen under a new name. This will be a huge financial setback for Dora and March.

Starting a new business can be overwhelming, but don’t let trademark registration fall through the cracks. 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 Richmond Businesses

• Trademark Search Services
• Trademark Application Filing
• Trademark Infringement Defense
• Trademark a Name
• Trademark a Phrase
• Trademark Cease and Desist Letters
• Trademark Office Action Response
• Trademark Abandonment