Friday, June 3, 2011

Procedure For Registering A Trademark

By Alex Brown


A trademark helps firms to protect their exclusive ownership of their logos or brand names. Trademarks can become legally enforceable only when they are properly registered with the concerned authority. The registration gives legal validation to the trademark, and this in turn allows its exclusive use. It also deters others from copying the trademark as legal recourses could be sought in case of violations.

It is always better to go for the registration of a brand name immediately after having come up with it. Postponing the process of registration of a trademark can result in your losing your trademark to someone else, who registers it before you do.

The first step towards registration of a brand name includes a basic check on the availability of the name that you intend to use. You should conduct an elaborate search for resembling trademarks duly registered by other companies to find out whether your trademark will be unique. This can be done by using the list provided by the registration office.

The following thing you need to do is procure a registration form and fill it up with the correct details of your firm, products that it deals in or services that it offers, address and other necessary details asked for. The filled up form can be then submitted with the specified amount of registration fee. However, if you fail to carry out the basic trademark existence check in advance, the authorities will have the right to forfeit your fee of application after rejecting your claim.

Once you have submitted your application, you should be vigilant as to sensibly respond to the questions asked by the concerned authorities. Such queries are required to be answered within a certain specified time. When your trademark has been registered, the authorities will issue a certificate that will offer you legal rights over your trademark, so that you can successfully protect your trademark and even prosecute infringers.




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