Trademarks are powerful tools worth protecting. They allow you to distinguish yourself from your competitors. They allow your customers to recognize your goods and services in the marketplace. If used consistently and correctly, your trademarks can be among your business’ most valuable asset.
1
USE THE MARK
• Trademark rights are acquired through use of the mark.
• Use on Products: Affix your mark directly on your products and product packaging.
• Use with Services: Use the mark in reference to your services in brochures, advertisements, websites and informational sheets. Letterhead and business cards are not enough. You need to use your mark along with materials that describe or promote your services.
2
ALWAYS USE THE TRADEMARK AS AN ADJECTIVE, NEVER USE THE MARK AS A NOUN, VERB OR OTHER GENERIC DESIGNATION
Trademarks are adjectives. They are not nouns or verbs. If you use them as nouns or verbs, you risk allowing your mark to become generic and/or merely descriptive.
Proper use as an adjective with the generic term for your product or service:
YOURMARKTM feed supplements
YOURMARKTM chocolates
YOURMARKTM water filtration devices
YOURMARKSM auction services
YOURMARKSM website services
YOURMARKSM educational services
YOURMARKSM biological preparations
Improper Use as a Noun or Verb:
NOT YOURMARK is . . . .
NOT Use YOURMARK to beat your competition . . . .
NOT Over one million users have bought YOURMARK to build their business . . .
3
USE THE TRADEMARK SYMBOL ® OR ™ OR SM
The ® symbol should only be used with federally registered marks: YOURMARK ®
The ™ symbol should be used with trademarks (marks that relate to products) that are not federally registered: YOURMARK ™
The SM symbol should be used with service marks (marks that relate only to services) that are not federally registered: YOURMARK SM
4
DISPLAY THE MARK SO IT STANDS OUT!
Be sure to display the mark on your products, product packaging and advertising materials in a distinctive way so consumers know your mark is a trademark.
• ALL CAPS
• Italics
• Different fonts & different sizes
• Stylized
• Use a different color . . . YOURMARKSM auction services
• And don't forget to use the proper designation of ®, TM or SM.
5
USE YOUR MARK AS IT IS REGISTERED!
If you registered your mark as two words, always, consistently use the two words. For example, if you registered YOUR MARK, never use the mark as YOURMARK. Always use the mark consistently and as registered.
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