Here are 5 reasons why you should register your trademark and ensure that you enjoy trademark protection.
1. You secure the exclusive right to use your trademark
A trademark registration gives you the exclusive right to use your trademark for the goods and services covered by the registration. This means you can stop others in the marketplace from using an identical or similar brand for similar goods or services to yours! You need to be vigilant and file a trademark opposition, if necessary.
2. A registration is evidence that you own the trademark
Trademarks can be registered or unregistered. An unregistered trademark is a brand that is in use but has not yet been protected by a trademark registration.
If you do not have a registration and someone else uses your trademark, you may be able to take action to stop them under fair trading legislation or passing off. But first you have to prove that you have a reputation or “goodwill” in your trademark to take action against your copy-cat. This is not always easy – building up a reputation can take years and pulling together evidence can be time consuming and expensive. Having a trademark registration removes the hurdle of having to prove you have built up a sufficient reputation in the brand. It is evidence that you have trademark protection.
3. Trademark registrations are cheaper to enforce
Generally speaking, it is much cheaper (and easier) to take action against someone who uses your trademark without your permission if you have a trademark registration. This is because you can take action for trademark infringement. (Trademark infringement is only available to holders of registered trademarks.)
4. You can use the ® symbol!
Having a trademark registration entitles you to use the registered trademark symbol – ® – and let the world know that you’ve protected your brand.
5. Your trademark registration is a business asset
In fact, it might be your most valuable business asset! Like any asset, a trademark registration can be bought or sold (and value attributed to it). You can also license your trademark to others – ie permit others to use your trademark subject to certain terms and conditions (and usually for a fee or other monetary consideration).
Trademarks Online makes protecting your brand hassle-free and lightning-fast.