Registered Trademark Symbol: The Importance of Getting Your Trademark Symbol Registered For Your Sports Apparel Business
When starting a new business, most people thing that its only all about making a business plan and having enough capital for it to work. However, what most people don’t realize is the fact that you will also need a symbol or a logo to represent your company or your products.
Having a trademark means that buyers can identify what product they are purchasing and from what company. For example, when you hear people say Nike, you think of shoes, shirts and sports apparel. You will also think of the Nike trademark, which resembles the “check” sign. Trademark is all about identity and with it, you can mark your products as your own.
This is why it is important to have a trademark for your business.
In today’s world, there are a lot of businesses opening up , especially in the sports apparel business. You have to consider that many people now prefer sports apparel products because it is stylish and is also very comfortable to wear. Products like rubber shoes and T-shirts are comfortable and can also be very stylish. You can wear them when you want to play or even when you just want to go out and take a walk. In the sports apparel world, you will see that there are quite a lot of companies manufacturing and promoting their product with their very own trademarks.
So, if you plan on opening up your own sports apparel business, manufactured by your company, you should try and think of a trademark symbol that you will use for your products. The trademark symbol will be placed on shirt tabs, or even printed on the shirt if you want. It can also be used in shoes. The trademark symbol is a symbol where consumers can identify your products. They will know who manufactured it and what company designed the product.
However, in the sports apparel business, there are different kinds of trademarks already registered. You have to consider the fact that you need to register the trademark symbol of your company in order to have exclusive use of it and make it illegal for other companies to copy. You have to think of a trademark symbol that is unique from other trademark symbol existing in the world today. Once you thought of a design for your trademark symbol, the next thing you need to do is know how to register it.
The registration for trademark symbol is done in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the PTO. The PTO is responsible for registering the trademark symbol as well as patenting inventions and copyrighting documents. You have to consider the fact that application for trademark registration can take some time in the PTO. The first step in trademark registration application is to provide all the minimum requirements set by the PTO. After you have completed the minimum requirements and have submitted it to the PTO, you will wait for two months where the PTO will get your trademark symbol examined by their patent and trademark lawyer.
If the trademark symbol is rejected, it is the lawyer’s responsibility to contact you by mail and by phone and inform you about the grounds for rejection. The most common grounds for rejection is having a trademark symbol that bears similarity to other trademark symbols that is already registered. There are quite a number for criteria where the lawyer will base upon on getting your trademark registration application approved or rejected.
It is important that you should comply with the rejection notice and overcome all the objections stated by redesigning your trademark symbol. If you don’t comply within six months prior to receiving your rejection letter from the PTO, your trademark registration application will be abandoned and you will be required to start over again.
If you find it difficult for you to register your trademark or if you find it inconvenient, it is recommended that you should hire a trademark attorney. They will guide through the step-by-step process in having your trademark registered. They will also help in preparing the legal documents and requirements associated with the trademark application process.
As you can see, it is important that you should register your trademark symbol in order to have exclusive rights for its use.