Wednesday, August 10, 2022
Top FIVE reasons to trademark an image
The top five reasons to trademark an image are:
1. You will avoid future branding conflicts
2. No one else in your industry will be able to trademark it
3. It will be easier to stop imitators
4. It will increase trust and recognition in your brand
5. You will be able to use the ® symbol
Avoid future conflicts: Trademarking your image ensures that your image does not conflict with any existing trademark registrations. Trademarking involves research to make sure that no one else has trademarks that are the same or similar to your image. Plus, the USPTO only registers trademarks that do not conflict with existing registrations. So, the trademarking process confirms that your image: (1) does not infringe any existing registered trademarks and (2) is available for your exclusive use
Prevent trademarking by others: Trademarking your image will prevent any competitors from trademarking the same or similar name image for their products or services. As a general rule, only one person can own a trademark in an industry. So, by trademarking your image, you ensure that no one else can trademark it and take it from you. This makes trademarking great insurance against ever having to rebrand.
Stop imitators: Trademarks, including image trademarks, come with legal presumptions that make protecting your brand easier and less expensive.
Trust: Trademarking your image will increase its value and the value of the property it represents. Trademarks ensure authenticity, which increases trust in your brand.
Use the ® symbol: Trademarking your image gives you legal permission to use the ® trademark symbol with them. The ® symbol is “public notice” that your image trademark is protected under federal law. This enhances your brand credibility and warns competitors to stay clear of your marks, both of which promote trust in the authenticity of your brand.
Remember: Once you have registered your trademark, it will be officially yours and no one else can use it (or anything similar) without your permission.
About Michael Kondoudis
For more than twenty years, Michael Kondoudis has been the go-to trademarking expert for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Michael is a USPTO-licensed trademark and patent attorney, educator, speaker, and author of the Amazon best-seller: Going From Business to Brand. He is also an authority trusted by national news media on major trademark stories involving NFTs and the Metaverse. For more information, visit www.mekiplaw.com.