Texas Trademark Attorney
Protect your brand’s intellectual property with a licensed trademark attorney
When starting a business, it’s important to focus on providing high-quality products or services with a strategic business plan. Just as important, though, is establishing your company’s brand identity—your name, logo, slogan, and designs—and ownership of all related intellectual property.
As a business owner, your brand is one of your most valuable assets. And to protect your brand, you need a registered trademark.
The trademark registration process can be complex. At the law firm of Shann M. Chaudry Esq., Attorney at Law PLLC, our Texas business attorneys can guide you through every step of the trademark application and registration process to help you secure your brand.
Our team cares deeply about helping business owners safeguard their brands and protecting their business identity. If you need legal trademark services to ensure that your brand remains your own, contact us.
What is a Trademark?
A trademark can be any unique word, phrase, symbol, or design—such as a logo or slogan—that identifies your business and distinguishes it from competitors.
A trademark serves several purposes:
- It identifies your business as the provider of your goods and services
- It offers legal protection for your brand
- It protects against counterfeiting and fraud
A trademark can be any unique word, phrase, symbol, or design—such as a logo or slogan—that identifies your business and distinguishes it from competitors.
A trademark serves several purposes:
- It identifies your business as the provider of your goods and services
- It offers legal protection for your brand
- It protects against counterfeiting and fraud
When you use your trademark, you can use a TM, SM, or ® symbol to let consumers and competitors know that you’re claiming it as your own—TM for goods, SM for services, and ® for registered trademarks. Note that TM and SM symbols can be used for trademark owners even if they haven’t yet filed an application to begin the trademark registration process.
While you are not required to register your trademark, the scope of your rights will be determined based on where and whether you register.
Protecting Your Business with a Trademark
It’s never too late to register your trademark—and it’s also never too early. In fact, the sooner you start the trademark application process, the sooner you secure your ownership rights.
Not sure where to start? Our business attorneys can help you understand the process and the steps you need to take, no matter where you are in your business lifecycle.
When protecting your brand, it’s important to choose a strong, distinct trademark. Not only will this help you stand out, but it will also reduce the likelihood of having a trademark that is confusingly similar to that of another brand. It’s not just about whether your trademark is unidentical to another brand—it’s also about whether it has similarities that could lead to mix-ups.
Not sure where to start? Our business attorneys can help you understand the process and the steps you need to take, no matter where you are in your business lifecycle.
When protecting your brand, it’s important to choose a strong, distinct trademark. Not only will this help you stand out, but it will also reduce the likelihood of having a trademark that is confusingly similar to that of another brand. It’s not just about whether your trademark is unidentical to another brand—it’s also about whether it has similarities that could lead to mix-ups.
To avoid confusion—and potentially litigation—with another business, consider the following:
| How closely the goods or services of the two businesses are related | The similarity of the two brands’ logos, symbols, or designs | The phonetic similarities of the brands’ words or catchphrases |
| Placement and arrangement of words and symbols | Color or font similarities between the two brands | Potential confusion of meaning with another mark |
A common misconception is that trademarks give business owners legal ownership of a particular word, phrase, or symbol, preventing others from using it altogether. The reality is that trademark law only offers the rights to use that word, phrase, or symbol in accordance with the brand’s goods or services.
The Process of Trademarking Your Intellectual Property
The specifics of each trademark application will vary, but the process is generally the same:
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Step 1: Conduct a trademark search |
Conducting a comprehensive trademark search will help to ensure that your trademark is not too similar to a previously registered one. |
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Step 2: File a trademark application |
Submit a detailed trademark application to the USPTO. |
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Step 3: Application review |
The examining trademark attorney will review your application. If there are any issues, they will send a formal letter, or office action, for you to remedy the issue. |
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Step 4: Final review |
If no entities oppose your trademark registration during the publication period, the examining attorney will then conduct a final review. |
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Step 5: Receive certificate of registration |
Receive your final registration certificate from the USPTO. |
The trademark registration process can take anywhere from several months to several years, depending on any office action issues. Speed up the process with the help of an efficient trademark attorney.
The Importance of Working with a Trademark Attorney
Work With a Texas Trademark Attorney Today
Chances are, you can benefit from pursuing legal services to help register your trademark.
Our skilled, experienced business attorneys can guide business owners through the complexities of the trademark application process, offering legal advice and answering any questions you may have along the way.
At Shann M. Chaudhry, Esq. PLLC, our team of experienced trademark and business law attorneys is here to help. We’re committed to transparent communication and exceptional client service. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a consultation.