You’ve got this great idea and you love the name you’ve come up with for the brand. You’ve put up a website, created a logo for it, built a business model around the idea and started inviting people to buy, join or invest. Maybe you’ve had a year of moderate success or even super achievements. Then, one day you get that letter or email saying “Hey, that’s my trademark, my brand and my business! We own this and you need to cease and desist from using the brand any further.” (Paraphrased. These notices are a lot stronger with more legalese of course.)
Going through the process of registering trademarks for your business ultimately results in an increase in your intellectual property holdings, which in turn can increase the value of your business. When you consider growing, financing, or selling your business, these parties will look at the value recorded in your books and at the strength of the protection you’ve surrounded your brand with. By filing for trademarks for your business name, slogans, logos, and other designs used in your marketing you provide investors and potential buyers with a strong basis for protecting the brand and business.
Here’s what many business owners may not understand. The reality is… Are you prepared to defend your trademark? Are you willing to risk being sued for an infringement? And if you cannot defend it, are you prepared to forego the trademark or brand that you may have already started building a business around?
These are important questions to think about based on your level of risk and how important the brand is to you and your business. Learn more about why you should register a trademark.