Q & A:

QUESTION

______________________________________________________________________________

Q: Do I need to trademark my logo if I've already trademarked my company name, and they're used together?

– Inquiring Entrepreneur

______________________________________________________________________________

ANSWER

A: Dear Inquiring:

Registering your business’ name for a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) provides protection for the name itself, but that protection doesn’t extend to your logo, even if it’s used together with your company name. If you want the same protection to extend to your logo—and you most definitely should—then you need to register the logo, also known as a “design mark,” separately from your business name. If you are going to invest the time and money to create a professional-looking logo and make it an integral part of your brand, you absolutely should register your logo as a trademarked design. And while you’re at it, you might also think about obtaining international trademark protection.

A logo is a key facet of your company’s intellectual property, and as with any business asset, you need to take the proper steps to protect it. As your Family Business Lawyer™, we can help you secure your logo with the needed trademark protections—and even enforce your ownership rights if needed.