All New York businesses depend on advertising strategies to get their name in the public eye, and one of the available advertising tools is a registered trademark. The quickest way to send a message is visually, and a trademark does that instantly while making a business stand out. The problem is that many businesses develop a sign or logo to post outside their establishment only to not take the crucial steps to register the symbol. This means that competitors can use the likeness if they so choose until the actual designer can trademark it, or competitors could even register the symbol first.
The registration process
Registering a trademark with the U.S. Patent Office is not necessarily a simple process. The primary restriction is the inability to register a specific word unless it is the name of the business. Even then, the word itself does not get registered alone. The actual registration is for the distinguishing mark associated with the symbol. In order to ensure that a registration is consistent with business and commercial law, the submitted mark must be researched to make sure that someone has not already registered the design, which can take a considerable amount of time.
How an attorney may help
Having an attorney may help expedite the process when the proposed mark is researched in depth before submission. There are multiple steps in finalizing the process, and prior research can provide effective information for the U.S. Patent Office beforehand. A New York business and commercial law firm may help describe the mark and detail exactly what component is open for registration.
While it is not necessary to retain an attorney or registration agency when trademarking a business symbol, it is a sound decision. Competition is keen in practically every New York industry, and an experienced attorney may help ensure that the business mark you want to register can in fact be protected.