How to Trademark a Logo in 6 Steps

Are you sick of seeing copycats everywhere that imitate your brand’s logo? Trademarking your logo is the surefire way to solidify your company’s identity and protect its reputation. A trademarked logo not only distinguishes your brand from others but also legally safeguards your unique image from unauthorized usage by competitors. Read on to explore the trademarking process and learn how to protect your brand’s logo once and for all.

What Is a Trademark?

A trademark is a legal protection for your brand, like a shield that helps keep your competitors at bay. It’s like a stamp of ownership that says “This logo is mine and no one else can use it without my permission.” Registering your trademark with the government gives you exclusive rights to use that logo or brand name in connection with your business. 

So, in a nutshell, a trademark is a powerful tool that helps you stand out from the crowd and protect your unique identity in the marketplace.

Trademarking a logo involves understanding the different types of trademarks, conducting a trademark search to avoid conflicts with existing trademarks, and filing for a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). 

A word mark is a type of trademark that protects the name of your brand or company, while a design mark protects the visual elements of your logo. Combined marks protect both the name and design elements of your logo. 

Why Is Trademarking a Logo Important?

Trademarking your logo is essential to protect your hard work and ensure that your brand identity remains unique. Here are just five of the many benefits of trademarking a logo:

1) Legal Protection: Trademarking your logo provides legal protection from infringement, which means that if someone else tries to use your logo without permission, you have legal recourse to stop them. 

2) Brand Recognition: A trademarked logo is a powerful tool for building brand recognition. When customers see your logo, they immediately associate it with your brand, products, or services. This kind of recognition is essential for building a loyal customer base. 

3) Competitive Edge: A trademarked logo sets you apart from the competition by showing that you are serious about protecting your brand identity. This level of professionalism can help you stand out from businesses that don’t take branding seriously. 

4) Asset Value: A trademarked logo can increase the value of your business as it can be seen as an asset in your balance sheet. This can be important if you ever decide to sell your business, as potential buyers will see the trademark as a valuable asset that adds to your overall value. 

5) Geographic Protection: If you use your logo in multiple locations, a trademark registration can protect your brand identity geographically, ensuring that you have exclusive rights to use it in the regions where you have registered. This can help prevent any potential confusion among consumers as it ensures that your brand identity is consistent across all locations.

Trademarking your logo is a valuable investment in your brand identity. It can increase the value of your business as it can be seen as an asset in your balance sheet and protect your brand identity geographically. 

6 Steps to Trademark a Logo

The trademark process can be broken down into six simple steps.

1. Decide if a Trademark Is Needed or Not

Before you begin the trademark process, it’s essential to determine whether your logo needs a trademark. If your logo is unique, distinctive, and not likely to be confused with another business’s logo, you may not need to trademark it. However, if you believe your logo is a critical aspect of your brand identity, and you want to protect it from unauthorized use, then a trademark may be necessary.

2. Search for Existing Trademarks

The next step is to search to see if similar trademarks already exist. This will help you determine whether your logo is unique enough to be trademarked. You can search for existing trademarks using the USPTO online database or hire a trademark attorney to conduct a more comprehensive search.

3. Prepare the Application

Once you’ve determined that your logo is eligible for a trademark and there are no similar trademarks, you can start preparing your trademark application. This includes creating a description of your logo, determining the class of goods or services your logo represents, and selecting the appropriate filing basis.

4. Submit Your Application

After you’ve completed the application, you can submit it to the USPTO. The application fee ranges from $225 to $600 per class of goods or services, depending on the filing basis you choose. The USPTO will review your application and either approve it or reject it.

5. Secure Your Trademark

If your application is approved, you’ll receive your trademark registration certificate. Be sure to display the trademark symbol (™) next to your logo to show that it is trademarked.

6. Perform Trademark Watch

Even after securing your trademark, you’ll need to perform a trademark watch to ensure no one else is using your trademark without permission. You can do this by regularly monitoring your industry and filing infringement claims if necessary.

How Much Does It Cost to Trademark a Logo?

You’re probably wondering just how much the entire process is going to set you back. Although we did touch on the filing fee, other considerations affect the total cost.

First things first, it’s important to note that the cost of trademarking a logo can vary depending on a few factors, including the complexity of the design, the scope of protection you’re seeking, and whether you hire a lawyer or use an online service.

The USPTO charges a filing fee of $250 per trademark class. So, if you want to protect your logo in multiple classes (e.g. clothing and accessories, entertainment services, etc.), you’ll need to pay the filing fee several times.

If you opt to use a lawyer to assist in the trademark application process, expect to pay anywhere from $750 to $2,000 or more, depending on the lawyer’s hourly rate and level of expertise.

What’s the Difference Between Trademark vs Copyright vs Patents?

A trademark is a symbol, name, or slogan that identifies and distinguishes a company’s products from its competitors. Think of those iconic golden arches of McDonald’s or the swoosh of Nike. These are both examples of trademarks that make it easy for consumers to identify the product and its quality. Trademark protection is essential in today’s business world as it ensures that a company’s reputation is protected and its intellectual property rights are secured.

On the other hand, copyright protects original works of art, such as songs, movies, and books. It gives the author exclusive rights to publish, distribute and sell their work, while also allowing them to earn royalties for its commercial use. Copyright has been around for centuries, and it continues to play a critical role in the modern creative economy.

Finally, we come to the daddy of intellectual property protections – Patents. These are exclusive rights granted to inventors over their creations, giving them the ability to prevent others from manufacturing or selling their inventions without their permission. In other words, if you created the next big thing that will revolutionize the world, a patent is what you need to protect your innovation and financially benefit from it.

Protect Your Logo and Focus on Growth

Following the process outlined in the article will help you secure your logo’s legal rights and protect your business’s intellectual property. But let’s be real – trademarking is just one of the many tasks that small business owners face. 

That’s where doola comes in – we’re the small business superhero you never knew you needed. With our expert guidance and user-friendly platform, doola can help you stay on top of your finances, so you can focus on what matters – growing your business, slaying the competition, and living your best life.

FAQs