The concept of marking one's work has been a standard practice for centuries. Items like a sword forged by a medieval blacksmith or manufactured goods like pre-cooked meats and a bottle of beer in supermarket aisles that bear a mark are real and physical examples. Services based on an invention, a unique idea, or a process are intangible and considered intellectual property.

Ordinary people and legal entities, like a corporation, mark what they produce with something distinctive and memorable.  A trademark can be a single letter, a color, a picture, or a word combination. We see unique phrases, logos, symbols, and images around us wherever we look. These special marks decorate the packaged food we eat, the tools we use, and corporate ownership of buildings we visit every day.

Since marks exist all around us, you will save money and time conducting a Comprehensive Study before you try to register a trademark. You want to secure the right to use your graphic representation as a trademark without infringing on someone's pre-existing mark. Once you can confirm your mark is unique, we recommend you register it for your exclusive use. Failure to perform an adequate search before you register a mark could result in a rejected application, future trademark litigation and jurisdictional disputes over claims of ownership.