WHAT IS A FEDERALLY REGISTERED TRADEMARK?

• Registering a trademark means a state or the federal government has granted you a monopoly on your mark, within your area of business. To get a state trademark registration, your trademark application is usually filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, in that state. To get a federal trademark registration, your trademark application is filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
• You should always register your trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. A registered federal trademark gives you a monopoly on your trademark throughout the United States. A + Legal Services highly recommends registering your trademark as soon as you know what it will be. Registering your trademark reserves the trademark for you and you only. If someone uses a confusingly similar trademark after you file your trademark application, you may well be able to stop that person from using the confusingly similar trademark.

Using your trademark in advertising and product marking is probably one of the best ways to establish your trademark as indicating your goods or services. The problem is that you might not be the only person using your trademark. Thus, register your trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to avoid problems and to prevent others from using your trademark.