by Gabrielle A. Holley, Esq.
The first thing I told one of my clothing company clients was, "you are not selling t-shirts, you are selling your name." You may have a terrific product, but you need a catchy name to sell it. After selecting a catchy name, you should obtain a federal trademark registration from the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO"). This is not always as easy as it sounds. In this article, I will discuss considerations that should go into the selection of a catchy and registrable trademark for your goods (or services).
What is a trademark? A trademark is a name, phrase and/or design that tells the consumer the origin of the goods and distinguishes your goods from those of your competitor. A trademark allows a consumer to select the product that he or she desires for reasons of quality, good will, or affiliation. You know that Kodak film came from Kodak because the trademark is on the box and that a house is being sold by Century 21 because of the
