Trademark Basics: What Every Small Business Should Know Now, Not Later

Abstract

This session is led by Mr. Craig Morris, Managing Attorney for Trademark Educational Outreach. He will discuss the following topics: •How trademarks, copyrights, patents, domain names, and business name registrations all differ. •Why it is important for any new business to select a trademark that will be both federally registrable and legally protectable, highlighting factors critical when choosing a mark. •The importance of doing a complete search and whether an attorney should be used. •What if another trademark owner believes it has stronger rights in a mark and issues a "cease-and-desist" letter? •Information on applying to seek federal registration and how to avoid "scams" perpetrated by companies that request fees for services not required by the USPTO. •What happens after registration?