Coddan – Helping Existing Businesses Register Trademarks and Logos in the USA

Why register trademarks and logos in America? Corporate symbols such as logos and trademarks play a huge role in defining companies, attracting customers and spreading brand awareness. From the McDonald's golden arches to Apple's apple and Nike's swoosh, trademarks and logos can make a firm's brand instantly recognisable, providing consumers with instant knowledge about the product or service they can expect to receive. While Google's logo is said to be the most valuable in the world with an estimated worth of about $44 billion, even small businesses can benefit enormously from having a recognisable trademark.

As a result, protecting your intellectual property in an effort to prevent your business being damaged by unlawful use of that trademark or logo is essential. Consider the financial losses you could suffer if another private company began selling inferior goods using your trademark or logo, not to mention the potential damage that could be caused to the firm's reputation and goodwill.

What's involved in registering trademarks and logos in America? It is important to remember that registration of a trademark in one country is not a guarantee of legal protection in another. If your business is involved in selling goods or services in the United States then ensuring you have sufficient protection for your intellectual property is highly advisable. In the USA, official trademark registration is handled by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the fastest and easiest way of submitting an application is though Coddan.

Our specialists are able to conduct trademark searches to ensure that the use of your trademark in the United States will not infringe upon the rights of another registered-trademark holder. If this is the case then an application will not be successful. It is also important to remember that the application process takes many months – often over a year if there are no objections and closer to two years if another limited company contests your use of a trademark or logo.

Coddan's team will be able to advise you on how to register a trademark across various classes, as well as provide guidance on the most cost-effective solution for your business. For larger companies with interests in a number of countries, this may well be in the form of an application under the Madrid Protocol System, which can result in legal trademark protection in 70 member countries, including the United States.

How will I benefit from a federal trademark registration? Aside from the general benefits outlined above, having a US-registered trademark permits your use of the ® symbol, giving public notice of your ownership of, and right to use, the mark. A successful registration will also allow you to take cases to a federal court if you believe individuals are infringing your trademark.