What Types Of Trademarks Can Be Registered?
A trademark can be a name, symbol, logo, or device that is used to differentiate your product or service from that of someone else. Even color schemes, shapes, and sounds can be trademarked. The key is that your trademark must represent your business and its products, yet not be descriptive or something considered generic.
A trademark that is simply descriptive (describes a generic class of the item) cannot be trademarked. The trademark must distinguish your item. For example, you cannot get a trademark for the phrase Rich Columbian Gourmet Coffee as part of your coffee house logo. This is simply descriptive of your coffee as well as many other businesses coffee. On the other hand, if you were the first to think of trade marking the Starbucks logo it could have been protected by trademark.
Other Intellectual Property FAQs
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Q:
What Is Intellectual Property Law?
A: Our legal system provides certain rights and protections for owners of property. The kind of property that results from the use of the mind in developing new ideas and … More -
Q:
Can Intellectual Property Fall Into More Than One Of The Sub-Categories Of Trademark, Copyright, Patent, Or Trade Secret?
A: Sometimes you can have overlapping protection. For example, a floral sketch might be protected under copyright law. If embossed onto tableware, patent law may also … More -
Q:
I Have Heard It Said That Intellectual Property Law Protects The Expression Of Ideas, And Not The Ideas Themselves. Is That The Case?
A: There are many legal texts that make this point. One might question the true accuracy of this statement; however, thinking in these terms can provide a helpful way to … More -
Q:
What Is A Copyright?
A: Copyright is a form of protection provided to the authors of original works of authorship including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other … More -
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Why Should I Register My Work If Copyright Protection Is Automatic?
A: Registration is recommended for a number of reasons. Many choose to register their works because they wish to have the facts of their copyright on the public record … More -
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How Do I Register My Copyright?
A: To register a work, you need to submit a completed application form, a nonrefundable filing fee of $30, and a nonreturnable copy or copies of the work to be … More -
Q:
What Is The Telephone Number For The U.S. Copyright Office?
A: The Public Information Office telephone number is (202) 7073000. To order application forms, the number is (202) 7079100. TTY is (202) 7076737. -
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What Is The Mailing Address For The U.S. Copyright Office?
A: The mailing address is Copyright Office, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue, S.E.,Washington, D.C. 205596000. -
Q:
What Are The Visiting Address And Hours Of Operation For The U.S. Copyright Office?
A: The Copyright Office is located at 101 Independence Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C., in the James Madison Memorial Building, Room LM401, of the Library of … More -
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Where Can I Get Application Forms?
A: You may get forms from the U.S. Copyright Office in person, by mailing in a request, by calling our 24hoursperday forms hotline: (202) 7079100, or … More
Entertainment and Sports Sub-categories
| Entertainment Law |