Your Guide to Trademark Law 101

December 12, 2011
Michael Atkins in Trademark Law 101

Here’s a collection of trademark basics, five years in the making. I’d been meaning to corral these suggestions for new clients and new trademark owners. Hopefully these posts shed some light on this murky business (which really isn’t that murky after all).

• What is a trademark? A copyright? A patent?
• How to select a protectable trademark
• The difference between descriptive and suggestive trademarks, and why it matters
• The right way to use a trademark
• What you need to know about trade dress
• Maximizing trademark rights without obtaining a registration
• Is state trademark registration appropriate for your mark?
• The benefits of obtaining a federal registration
• Can one reserve a trademark?
• A strategy to consider when registering a trademark on a budget
• Strategies to consider when your application for trademark registration is pending
• The enlightened way to enforce trademark rights
• If I win my trademark infringement claim, can I recover my attorney’s fees?
• Tips on drafting enforceable injunctions
• A checklist in drafting trademark license agreements

Other posts focusing on trademark basics can be found by clicking the “Trademark Law 101” category hyperlinked below.

Have I missed any topics? Anything still seem mysterious? Let me know!

Article originally appeared on Michael Atkins (http://seattletrademarklawyer.com/).