Starting a business comes with a lot of important steps, and one of the key decisions is when to get a trademark for your brand. The simple advice? Do it as early as you can.
When you apply for a trademark, there are two main ways to do it. The first way, known as “1A” or “in-use,” tells the trademark office that you’re already using your brand name or logo in business. But there’s another method, called “1B” or “intent-to-use.” This means you’re planning to use the trademark soon, even if you haven’t started yet. You’re basically saying, “Hey, we have plans for this trademark.”
This “intent-to-use” option is great because it lets you start the trademark process early. You don’t have to wait until you’ve launched your product or brand. This can be a big help for businesses thinking about changing their brand name, starting a new product line, or coming up with a new slogan. It’s a way to make sure your new brand name or slogan is okay to use before you spend money and time on marketing or products.
Why is this important? Well, it’s a way to protect your brand right from the start. It helps you avoid the trouble of finding out later that you can’t use your brand name or logo because someone else has a trademark on something too similar. This early protection step can save you a lot of headaches and keep your business on the right track.
So, when it comes to getting a trademark for your business, the sooner, the better. This doesn’t just help keep your brand safe; it also makes sure you can move forward with your business plans without running into legal issues later on. Getting that trademark early on is a smart move for any business looking to build a strong foundation for its brand.
About the Author
CEO & Founding Trademark Attorney at Indie Law®
Joey Vitale is the CEO & Founding Trademark Attorney at Indie Law, a trademark law firm that helps you get peace of mind knowing you legally own your brand. He and his team are on a mission to be the best brand protectors they can be, and they’ve filed well over 2,500 trademarks. In addition to being an award-winning attorney, Joey is an internationally renowned speaker and the host of the chart-topping podcast, The Passive Income Lawyer. Learn more →