TRADEMARKS

A trademark is a word, figure, numeral, design, or a combination of any of these, used to identify and distinguish the goods or services of a business from those marketed by others. In other words, it establishes the relationship between the goods and the manufacturer. A trademark can relate to both products and services.

Some interesting trademarks are given below:

-       Numbers can be trademarks like in the case of 501 tea and 555 cigarettes.

-       Symbols can be trademarks like those of Mercedes Benz or Apple computers.

-       Orange cell phone service has successful managed to include the color orange as its trademark. There are many causes of the color part of the trademark.

-       Sound like:

MGM`s “roar of the lion” can also be a trademark.

WCB’s “Wasafi” can also be a trademark.

1.    Select trademark

The trademark selected should be distinctive. There should not be any scope for confusion with existing trademarks. Not only is it bad for business, but it is also unlikely to be registered by the registry of Trademarks. Also, the trademark should be appealing to consumers.

2.    Search and register

A few selected trademarks should be submitted at the registry of trademarks for a paid search. Even the unlikeliest of trademarks could have been visualized and registered by someone in the past. This search will virtually eliminate the possibility of a similar trademark having been registered earlier.

3.    Establish a trademark

The trademark can be established in the market by brand building exposure. A trademark is established by building recognition. Adequate investments have to be made in an appropriate advertising and marketing strategy.

4.    Protecting trademark

The trademark is protected by regularly scanning the market for imitations and attempts of passing off. The market has to be monitored by the sales team.

The journal of the trademark has to be scanned to ensure that similar or identical trademarks do not get registered.