Welcome to Trademark Law Radio sponsored by Traverse Legal, an internet law firm specializing in intellectual property law with offices conveniently located in Traverse City, Michigan; Los Angeles, California; Austin, Texas; Lexington Park, Maryland and Encino, California. In this episode, Trademark Attorney Brian A. Hall discusses the benefits of international trademark registration for trademark protection in foreign countries.
Attorney Brian A. Hall: Owning a trademark registration with the United States Patent and Trademark Office is a great start, but in today’s global economy, it might not be enough. Each trademark owner’s goal is to increase the protection of its trademark, as well as the underlying value associated with it. Therefore, while a trademark registration with the USPTO provides protection in the United States, it might not provide the protection worldwide that’s necessary.
A trademark registration attorney can assist you in identifying those countries in which you do business, those countries in which you need additional protection and those countries in which you seek both business and/or protection in the future. Having identified these countries, a trademark registration cost analysis can be done to identify which countries will provide the greatest return on investment. However, it is critical to recognize that there is a six month timeframe from the time you acquire your trademark registration with the USPTO to take advantage of various priority rights offered under trademark law.
If your goal is to increase the scope of your trademark protection beyond the United States while increasing the value of your trademark worldwide, then international trademark registration is something that you should consider. An international trademark registration can provide you the additional protections you need to ensure that your trademark is protected here in the United States, as well as abroad, where consumers are buying your products or using your services. Remember, a website is global, meaning that your trademarks can be seen and/or used throughout the world. Shouldn’t you be protecting them throughout the world?
Trademark registration in foreign countries is important if you want to protect your mark globally. Some countries have a first to file rule, despite who used their trade mark first. A trademark registration lawyer can help you determine which countries make the most sense for your product or service mark.
Posted by: trademark registration in foreign countries | Monday, 21 May 2012 at 07:26 AM