When your startup company name is also the trademark for your product
Before incorporating, it is best to search the USPTO trademark database for your startup company name. A trademark search can provide not only peace of mind, but also a helpful assurance that you may be able to sell product under your desired trademark with lower risks of trademark infringement. Your startup company name will often become the brand you wish to build in the mind of your customers.
Need to protect your startup trademarks? Contact US patent and trademark attorney Vic Lin at (949) 223-8623 or email vlin@icaplaw.com to see how we can help you plan and execute a wise strategy for trademark registration.
Should startups file Intent-To-Use or use-based trademark applications?
For a new name or logo that has not yet been used on the product or service, you can file an Intent-To-Use application to secure an earlier filing date. This is a strategically wise move for highly creative and distinctive marks. Otherwise, you risk someone else encountering your trademark in the marketplace and applying first for a trademark similar to yours.
If the mark is already in use, conduct a knockout search before filing. It may seem counterintuitive, but you could be better off not filing a trademark application for a mark that you’ve already been using for awhile. This could allow you to fly under the radar of certain trademark owners who monitor new applications for marks they consider to be too similar to theirs.
Startup trademark cost considerations
An ITU application generally costs more than a use-based application due to the subsequent task of filing a Statement of Use. In a use-based application, specimens of use and associated dates are gathered upfront and included with the initial filing.
Time vs. money considerations for startups
If time is more valuable to you than money, consider filing multiple ITU applications for various marks to see which ones get approved.
If money is more important than time, choose the best mark and file the trademark application properly to avoid delays and potential additional legal costs down the road.
Responding to trademark Office Action refusals
Registration of your mark may be refused for a number of reasons. The two most common grounds of refusal are likelihood of confusion (i.e., your mark is too similar to a prior filing) and mere descriptiveness (your mark describes a feature or quality of the goods or services).
A knockout search prior to applying can assess the risk of a likelihood of confusion rejection. Recognize that other marks do not have to be identical in order to block your registration. As a result, your application may get rejected if the examining attorney believes your mark is confusingly similar.
Your trademark application may get blocked by registered trademarks that seem quite unrelated to your mark and product. While you will have an opportunity to respond to rejections, minimizing the risk of rejections upfront can save time and money.
File trademark application before or after incorporating startup?
We generally recommend filing Intent-To-Use trademark applications after incorporation if the mark has not yet been used. It can be tricky to transfer ITU applications from an individual to a company if the mark had not yet been used at the time of transfer.
If you are in a rush to file an ITU application for a mark before your startup has been formed, just keep in mind that the trademark assignment must be carefully drafted to effect a proper transfer of an ITU application.
Need to file a trademark for your startup?
Make sure to select a trademark that will not be fraught with issues from the get-go. A thorough search will reduce the probability of having to transition to a new startup trademark.
Reach out to startup patent and trademark attorney Vic Lin at vlin@icaplaw.com or call (949) 223-9623 to see how we can help protect your startup’s trademark.
