How to register trademarks and service marks with the State of Minnesota
Reviewed by Thomas Phung, Esq., trademark attorney · Part of our Basics, search & filing guide Short answer: To register a trademark or service mark in Minnesota, you file an application with the Minnesota Secretary of State showing the mark is already in use in the state. State registration is fast and inexpensive, but it […]
Why Trademark Protection Matters for Minnesota Businesses
Reviewed by Thomas Phung, Esq., trademark attorney · Part of our Costs & hiring an attorney guide Short answer: Trademark protection keeps competitors from using a name or logo that customers associate with your business. A federal registration gives you nationwide priority, public notice that blocks later filers, and stronger tools to stop copycats online […]
Trademark Monitoring: Why Minnesota Businesses Need Ongoing Brand Protection
Reviewed by Thomas Phung, Esq., trademark attorney · Part of our Disputes & enforcement guide Short answer: Trademark monitoring watches new USPTO filings, marketplaces and the web for marks that are confusingly similar to yours. Registration does not stop others from filing, and the USPTO will not police your brand for you. Monitoring lets you […]
Minnesota Trademark Law for Small Businesses: A Practical Guide
Reviewed by Thomas Phung, Esq., trademark attorney · Part of our Basics, search & filing guide Short answer: In Minnesota, trademark rights come from using a mark in commerce. You can strengthen them with a state registration through the Secretary of State or a federal registration with the USPTO. Federal registration offers nationwide protection and […]
Choosing Between a Minnesota State Trademark and a USPTO Federal Trademark
Reviewed by Thomas Phung, Esq., trademark attorney · Part of our Basics, search & filing guide Short answer: A Minnesota state trademark is fast and inexpensive but only protects you within Minnesota. A federal USPTO registration covers the whole country, puts later filers on notice and gives stronger enforcement tools. If you sell online or […]
Minnesota Business Name: What Business Owners Need to Know
Reviewed by Thomas Phung, Esq., trademark attorney · Part of our Basics, search & filing guide Short answer: Registering a business name with the Minnesota Secretary of State, as an LLC, corporation or assumed name, does not give you trademark rights. It only lets you do business under that name in Minnesota. To protect the […]
How to Choose a Strong Trademark for Your Business
Reviewed by Thomas Phung, Esq., trademark attorney · Part of our Basics, search & filing guide Short answer: The strongest trademarks are coined or arbitrary words, like Kodak or Apple for computers, followed by suggestive names that hint at a quality without describing it. Descriptive names are hard to register and enforce, and generic terms […]
Branding a Product or Service: A Practical Guide for Minnesota Businesses
Reviewed by Thomas Phung, Esq., trademark attorney · Part of our Basics, search & filing guide Short answer: Branding a product or service starts with choosing a distinctive name and logo, then protecting them. Clear the name with a trademark search, register it with the USPTO, secure matching domains and social handles, and use the […]
General Overview of Trademark Law
Reviewed by Thomas Phung, Esq., trademark attorney · Part of our Basics, search & filing guide Short answer: Trademark law protects the names, logos and other identifiers that tell customers who makes a product or provides a service. Rights come from use in commerce and are strengthened by federal registration with the USPTO. The core […]
Five common federal trademark Q and A
Reviewed by Thomas Phung, Esq., trademark attorney · Part of our Basics, search & filing guide Short answer: Five questions come up in nearly every federal filing: whether to register, what to register first, which classes to file in, how long registration takes, and what it costs. In short, register the brand you plan to […]