STEP 1: Determine whether you have a trademark.

WHAT IS A TRADEMARK?

• A trademark is used to identify your goods or services. A trademark is a symbol of your hard work, a symbol of your quality, a symbol of your skill. Just think what McDonald's would be like without the Golden Arches. When you see the Golden Arches atop a sign, you know that a McDonald's restaurant is waiting to serve you. Similarly, your trademark will tell your customers that you are ready to serve them.
• A trademark is a monopoly of sorts. Once the public recognizes your trademark and thinks of your it as a positive indication of your product or service, then you own a valuable commodity because the public will look for your mark when buying goods or services. In short, trademarks enhance the value of your product or service.
• A trademark can take many forms: the name of an invention, the name of a business, the interior layout and design style of a restaurant, the appearance of a package, the symbol worn on a delivery man's hat, or any combination that symbolizes the origin of a product or service.