Best Practices: How Your Business Can Stay Informed About Your Trademarks
You have taken the first step and registered your trademark but what is next? Staying informed on your trademarks is crucial to protecting your brand identity. Here are some quick best practices to help businesses remain vigilant and proactive in order to protect your trademarks.
1. Educate Your Team
o Make sure your employees and key marketing members are aware of your registered trademarks. Educate employees on the importance of protecting the company’s identity and ensure each team member is aware of your key phrases, logos, and brand guidelines.
o Key Tip: Provide a list of key trademarks in your on-boarding packet. Make it fun by using a flyer or example advertisement.
2. Stay Updated on Trademark Law
o Trademark law is ever changing, try to keep up on basic trademark initiatives and legal changes that may affect your trademark registration.
o Key Tip: Attend free webinars or podcasts to stay up to date on trademark regulations.
3. Maintain Documentation
o Always keep documents of your trademark materials, specifically marketing materials that use your registered trademarks. Be sure to keep copies of product packing that may contain your registered trademarks. Always be sure your trademark attorney is tracking required renewals of your trademarks.
o Key Tip: Having samples of products that use your trademark in commerce can make or break a legal dispute. Proof of continued use is key!
4. Review Social Media and Online Presence
o Social media is one of the top places trademark infringements occurs. Continuously monitor trademarks across various social media platforms for unauthorized use of trademarks.
o Key Tip: All social media platforms and third-party sites such as Ticktock and Temu have a section where you can submit a claim to remove material infringing on your trademark.
5. Establish a Trademark Strategy
o A business should always have a clear agreed upon trademark strategy. This strategy should include what you will trademark, how the trademarks will be used to market your business, a trademark monitoring plan, and how you will prepare and act in the event of an infringement.
o Key tip: A good trademark and intellectual property strategy can help with improving your business valuation and ensuring your business is known nationwide.
6. Go Global
o Protect your trademark rights outside the United States. When you file solely in the US your trademark can be used by others in the same way outside of the United States. Ensure your trademark is protected worldwide by registering your trademark in other markets you may decide to one day tap into. Become aware of the trademark protections in each jurisdiction.
o Key Tip: Most trademark attorneys have relationships internationally and can assist you or guide you in how to begin this process.
Staying informed about your trademarks is an ongoing process. By implementing some of these best practices, your business can begin to effectively protect your brand and reduce the risk of trademark disputes.