When Florida residents run a small business, they may wonder how they can keep other companies from using their trademark. Because this trademark is vital to a business, it is important for people to know how they can protect it.
A business may trademark anything associated with their particular brand. According to Fox Business, this can include colors, names, words and symbols that a company uses to market its services. When people consistently use this trademark, it is automatically considered theirs. While people do not always need to register this trademark, they may want to consider having it officially registered. When a trademark is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, small businesses can expand the areas they do business in, and they may also have more protection when they use the Internet to sell to customers in different states.
There are several steps a small business can take to protect a trademark. Chron.com says that a company should usually make sure a trademark is not being infringed. Visiting the websites of competing companies or searching the Internet for a trademarked phrase can help a business know exactly when someone is infringing on this trademark. Additionally, businesses should generally make sure they have standards for the way they use their particular brand. This includes monitoring the way the public perceives the company, as well as the way members of the company speak about the brand.
Additionally, it is a good idea for people to act as soon as they realize their trademark is being infringed. They should typically send a letter explaining the infringement and request that the other company stops using the trademark.
