Trademarks

• Use mark on goods or services

• Always use the mark as an adjective and not a noun or verb

  • Right: Quattro Pro software is wonderful
  • Wrong: Quattro Pro is wonderful

• Identify the mark with the TM symbol at least once

• Register important marks

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Trademark protection is acquired by using the mark in connection with the sale of the goods or services.

Trademark rights are yours unless you fail to take precautions to keep them. In particular, ALWAYS

1. Use the mark as an adjective and never as a noun

2. Identify the mark with the TM symbol at least once in each document

3. Commercially important marks with the U.S. Patent and trademark office.

Registration provides

1. Nationwide notice that you are using the mark

2. After 5 years, your mark receives a presumption of validity against others claiming rights in the mark.

Registration entails

1. Filing a form with a sample of the mark in the U.S. Patent and Trademark office.