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How does a trademark protect my business?

Senior Trademark Attorney

A registered trademark protects brand name and/or logos from infringement by giving you exclusive rights in jurisdictions where your trademark is registered. Registrations are valid for 10 years and can be renewed an unlimited number of times, so long as you keep commercially using the trademark.

A trademark protects from direct copying, but also from competitors who create a confusingly similar impression, i.e., brands that could be confused for yours by a consumer. The purpose of a trademark is to signal a single identifiable source of goods and services to the consumer; competitors cannot use elements that mislead customers about that source.

Specific legal protections a registered trademark provides:

The right to use the ® symbol, which signals active legal protection and deters potential infringers.
The right to oppose similar trademark applications filed with the same IP office.
The right to report infringement on commercial platforms such as Amazon.
The right to issue cease and desist letters against unauthorized use.

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