How to Trademark a Digital Logo

The trademark process in the United States involves the use of symbols or names to distinguish one business from another. Business owners who turn to virtual storefronts and online advertising use a digital logo as a way of branding their products or services. The rise of digital commerce has also meant a need for caution and security to protect creative endeavors. Business people and individuals alike need to know how to trademark their digital logo.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Discuss the appropriate steps in the trademark application process with a qualified intellectual property attorney. Intellectual property laws are intricate, as they protect material expressions of intellect and creativity. Contact your local law school to seek pro bono legal assistance before advancing to the application.
2. Refine your digital logo before filling out the trademark application. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office requires a clear image that represents the logo to be protected by law. Any misrepresentation or lack of clarity can lead to failure and another application period.
3. Develop a comprehensive list of the goods and services that will be distributed to the public under the trademark. The USPTO application features a section requiring an exhaustive rendering of the type of business represented by a trademark. Failure to accurately define the activities covered by the trademark will lead to a rejected application.
4. Send the trademark application around to your business associates, friends, and others affected by the legal protection. There are many details involved with trademark applications. It is important for a trademark applicant to have an extensive review process before the application goes out, in order to save time and money.
5. Submit your trademark application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (see Resources below). The agency encourages applicants to submit their materials through their online system to speed up the process.

Tips & Warnings

• Spend time with business partners or colleagues on refining your digital logo. The trademark process can take weeks and months of waiting, which means a serious commitment of time and energy by everyone involved. Ensure that the logo is perfect before sending off the application.
• Avoid confusion or conflict with competing companies by reviewing trademarks currently in use. Trademarks with the registered symbol (a circle with an R in the center) can be accessed through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website.