You might be surprised to learn that many new companies fail
to recognize the breadth of their intellectual property (IP)
or to appreciate the significance of proper protection. IP
issues are among the most important (read: valuable) assets that
any company will have. Yet, it is one of the last considerations
for some companies, particularly startups. The good news is,
though, many of the common pitfalls can be avoided by developing an
IP strategy early, and revisiting it often. When it comes to
protecting your brand, a strong trademark is key.
So, what is a trademark anyway? A
trademark can be a word, symbol, slogan, design, or any combination
of these. Trademarks (or “marks”) identify and
distinguish one's goods and services from another
person's goods and services. In the United States,
trademark rights are based on actual use and trademark owners have
exclusive rights to use the mark in connection with their goods and
services. Thus, mark owners can prevent
