Trademark Basics

Trademarks and trademark protection have never been more important in U.S. and global commerce than today! Enterprises large and small seek to assert and build good will around recognizable symbols and logos that identify their goods and services. Business owners expect federal and state laws to protect them against competitors that might employ confusingly similar trademarks and thereby take some of their market share or damage their reputation by the confusion. There is likewise a strong public interest in avoiding the occurrence of such similar trademarks as might cause a likelyhood of confusion to consumers as to the true source of the goods or services.

RIZZO & DIERSEN provides comprehensive trademark services including trademark research, counseling about the selection and protection of trademarks, service marks, trade dress and certification marks, as well as clearing searches, infringement analysis, formal legal opinions, and filing and prosecution of state, national, and foreign trademark applications.

The firm’s trademark attorneys counsel clients on the selection, availability, use, and registration of trademarks, as well as related issues such as trademark monitoring, trademark licensing, consent agreements, and customs recordation.

In summary, a strategic trademark program is a
key component in a company-wide intellectual property program, where registered trademarks can be used for both offensive and defensive purposes, add to its intellectual property assets, as well as to develop trust and confidence in the company through wide recognition of its marks and branding of its products and services. Company locations, markets and related geographical considerations, as well as classification of products and services, packaging, and channels of distribution will be a factors in the decisions about where and how to file.