Secure Ideas
Trademark, Copyright & Patent Protection
Your ideas are valuable, and we’re committed to helping you protect them.
Protect Your Inventions
We will help you to protect what distinguishes you from the rest
Trademark
Protects brand names, logos, and slogans for products. Federal registration gives nationwide rights to stop confusingly similar uses on competing goods. (™/®)
Servicemark
Protects names and logos that identify services. Federal registration gives nationwide rights and lets you use the ® symbol. (℠/®)
Copyright
Protects original creative works—books, music, art, software, films. Grants exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, display, and license your work. (©)
Patents
Protects new inventions, processes, machines, or designs. Gives exclusive rights to make, use, or sell for a limited term (about 20 years).
Trade Secrets
Protects valuable confidential business information (formulas, methods, customer lists). Coverage lasts as long as it remains secret.
Not sure of what you need?
Why Choose Our Intellectual Property Services
Facilitate Licensing
Unlock opportunities for growth by leveraging your intellectual property in strategic collaborations, licensing deals, and market expansion.
Marketing & Advertising
Enhance brand recognition and trust by protecting your identity, ensuring consistent messaging, and safeguarding your advertising assets.
Competitive Advantage
Secure trademarks and copyrights to defend your market position, protect brand reputation, and maintain recognition as your business grows globally.
Differentiate Yourself
Stand out from competitors by protecting your unique brand, preventing imitation, and reinforcing long-term business identity.
Intellectual Property FAQ
What is a Federal Trademark?
A Federal Servicemark is the same as a Federal Trademark, except that it identifies and distinguishes the source of a service rather than a product.
What is a Federal Servicemark?
A Federal Servicemark is the same as a Federal Trademark, except that it identifies and distinguishes the source of a service rather than a product.
Why Get a Federal Trademark or Federal Servicemark?
A name or logo in many cases overtime becomes a company's most valuable asset. Registering a Federal Trademark or Federal Servicemark prevents others from adopting your name or design and gives you very favorable enforcement powers throughout the United States.
What is First Use?
Federal Trademark or Federal Servicemark rights are established from the earliest of the date of first use of the Mark on the goods or services in interstate commerce or in commerce with a foreign country, or from the date of filing of an "intent-to-use" application if later it is actually used.
What Is Intent to Use?
It means you are reserving your Federal Trademark or Servicemark before you have actually used it in commerce.
Why Should the Federal Trademark or Federal Servicemark Be Owned By a Limited Liability Company or a Corporation?
Liability. The bottom line is that if you personally own a Federal Trademark or Federal Servicemark, you may be opening yourself up to lawsuit in connection with the products or services offered under the Mark.
Can I register my Internet Domain name?
At Spiegel & Utrera, P.A.., we recommend Internet businesses registering their names should generally refrain from registering their web extension, such as .com or .net with their name, unless they're planning to register the mark both with and without the web extension.
Why Have Spiegel & Utrera, P.A. Assist in Securing A Federal Trademark or Federal Servicemark?
The price is right, but the main reason is that intellectual property is a specialized field where an experienced attorney from Spiegel & Utrera, P.A. can assist you in avoiding Federal Trademark and Federal Servicemark registration pitfalls.
What are the Federal Trademark or Federal Servicemark Registration Requirements?
The Mark must be filed under the owner’s name. The application must be based on actual use or an intent-to-use the Mark in commerce.
How Long Will My Federal Trademark or Federal Servicemark Registration Take to Complete?
The registration process may typically take around six to eight months to wrap up, although it can last longer if legal issues arise.
What happens if Legal Issues Arise?
It is common that the U.S. Government may issue an office action letter.
What types of office actions exist?
There are several types of office actions: examiner’s amendments, priority actions, non-final office actions, final office actions, and suspension letters.
What Happens if the Federal Trademark or Federal Servicemark Owner Changes or Their Name Changes?
During the examination of a pending Federal Trademark application as well as after a Federal Trademark has registered, the owner of a Federal Trademark may change for various reasons.
How Do I Let People Know My Mark is Registered?
Once you have started the registration process, we recommend that you place the Trademark symbol "™" next to the Mark. Once the Federal Trademark process is complete and the U.S. Government issues the registration number to you, the "®" symbol may be used instead.
Why protect my valuable Intellectual Property?
Many clients assume incorporating or forming their business entity with the Secretary of State will automatically protect their business name—it does not.
Why is having a Federal Trademark or Federal Servicemark important for protecting your valuable intellectual property?
Let’s say that you’ve started a corporation, Mystic Green Candle Enterprises Inc., and you’ve got a great idea for a product, the “Mystic Green Candle.” Just because you started Mystic Green Candle Enterprises Inc. would not stop someone else from marketing the Mystic Green Candle.
Picking a Name: Types of Trademarks or Servicemarks
Trademarks and Servicemarks are generally divided into two categories of strong Marks: fanciful and arbitrary.
What are descriptive marks?
Descriptive Marks are the weakest type of Mark, where the word or words are merely descriptive of the product or service.
Should I register my Federal Trademark and Federal Servicemark?
Failure to register a Mark that should be registered denies a company substantial benefits.
Trademark or Servicemark Search with Attorney Opinion to Ensure You're Not Infringing
A good idea is that the entrepreneur should select three Marks from the fanciful or arbitrary categories.