FAQ Trademarks - LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=175 BGCOLOR="#A6CAF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME PAGE LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN"><U><B><IMG SRC="00d0d1d0.gif" border=0 width="13" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DEVELOPING AND REGISTERING A TRADEMARK "><U><B><IMG SRC="00e1b1d0.gif" border=0 width="27" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> <B>© </B>2001 Elias M. Gordan</div> <div> All rights reserved</div> <bR> <div> <B>Law Office of</B></div> <div> <B>Elias M. Gordan</B></div> <div> Post Office Box 60</div> <div> Palos Park, IL  60464</div> <bR> <div> Phone  708.923.9735</div> <div> Email  gordanlaw@att.net</div> <div> Web    www.gordanlaw.com</div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME PAGE LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN"><U><B>HOME</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN About Us"><U><B>About Us</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN Contact U"><U><B>Contact Us</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> FACT SHEET ON TRADEMARKS AND SERVICE MARKS</div> <bR> <div> <B>What is a trademark or service mark?</B>   Any word, name, symbol, device, or combination thereof, used to distinguish one's good (trademark) or service (service mark) in the marketplace.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Who can get trademark or service mark protection?</B>   The party using the mark in the marketplace.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Why develop and protect a trademark or service mark?</B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >   </FONT>To set your product apart from the competition, and to prevent others from developing marks likely to be confused with yours.  A quality, known brand can be worth more than the hard assets behind it.</div> <bR> <div> <B>How are trademarks and service marks protected?</B>  Under both State and Federal law.  A trademark or service mark typically enjoys “common-law” protection under State law, but is usually limited to the specific geographic area in which it is known.  Trademark or service mark registration with the Secretary of State offers stronger protection within a State's borders, but is of no help if the brand is expanded beyond State lines.  Federal registration (indicated by an ® or <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Letter Gothic (W1)" >REG TM </FONT>designation) is essential to protecting a regional or national brand, and can be used to block later competing marks.</div> <bR> <div> <B>What qualifies for Federal trademark or service mark registration (®)?</B> A distinctive mark, that is not likely to be confused with a preexisting trademark or service mark.  Federal registrations are made with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  </div> <bR> <div> <B>How long is a trademark or service mark good for?</B>   Potentially, forever, <U>if</U> the mark is kept in continuous use.  Indiana registrations must be renewed every ten (10) years. Illinois registrations must be renewed every five (5) years.  USPTO registrations (®) must be renewed in the sixth year, the tenth year, and every ten (10) years thereafter.</div> <bR> <div> <B>How does one go about protecting a trademark or service mark?</B>   First, by selecting a trademark or service mark that is not likely to be confused with another mark.  This is best done through an attorney familiar with trademark law.  A trademark search is helpful at this stage, in identifying conflicting marks.</div> <div>         Once a trademark or service mark is selected, the mark should be registered at the Federal and State levels.  USPTO registrations (®) may be applied for, before the mark is actually used.  The trademark or service mark has to be in actual use before the registration takes effect.  Once the mark is in use, one must promote and build the brand.</div> <div> <B>How do I go about this?</B>   <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="DEVELOPING AND REGISTERING A TRADEMARK "><U><B>Click here</B></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>For links to additional useful information, </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN IP Links"><U><B>click here</B></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> DISCLAIMER:   For general information only.  Not to be considered legal advice, nor create an attorney-client relationship.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Law Office of Elias M. Gordan</div> <div> <B>16335 S. Harlem Ave., Suite 400</B></div> <div> <B> Tinley Park, IL  60477</B></div> <div> <B>708.923.9735, </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:gordanlaw@att.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:gordanlaw@att.net"><U><B><U>gordanlaw@att.net</U></B></U></A></FONT><B>, </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.gordanlaw.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gordanlaw.com"><U><B><U>www.gordanlaw.com</U></B></U></A></FONT><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME PAGE LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN"><U><B>BACK TO HOME PAGE</B></U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>