Trademark is a distinct sign that helps identify a corporate entity’s goods and services to that of others. It is highly secured by intellectual property rights. It is usually in the form of images, logos, pictures, and expressions. Trademark is an integral part of a company as it differentiates the product from competitors. The Trademark Act, 1999, protects its rights and is immune to copyright infringement.

Registration of trademark

To obtain the protection of trademark rights, a company should register the trademark. It is essential to register your trademark as it avoids misrepresentation of products with your designated mark. Trademark assists the customer to identify the brand as well as the brand value.

Trademark does not have a specific limitation period to that of patents. The latter would automatically expire after a period of twenty years while the former expires after a period of ten years of its registration time. However, the trademark could be renewed for another ten years. It is an indefinite process that allows you to renew it multiple times. They are secured under the Trademark Protection Act, 1999.

If you plan to avail of trademark services from a reputed company, you may consider approaching Jehangir Gulabbhai & Bilimoria & Daruwalla. They render exceptional trademark prosecution services such as performing comprehensive searches for a specific trademark along with the filing of applications with a trademark registry.

Advantages of registering a trademark

• Possessing a registered trademark provides the business owner additional protection such as ownership and averting the burden of proof.
• Upon registration of a trademark, you will make sure that the trademark is not similar to that of various other registered trademarks. If in case, you have accidentally infringed upon a third party’s name or a trademark, the concerned registered trademark owner might sue you. He/she will have to pay a hefty fine and surrender profits earned under the unregistered trademark.
• Registration of trademarks would ensure that other companies do not possess a similar trademark thereby offering your company an exclusive right to market and function under the previously mentioned trademark.
• The trademark also provides you the right to execute legal action against a company that infringes upon you.
• You could also take advantage of the copyright symbol® which implies that your mark is duly registered. It adds credibility to your company as well.
• If you are planning to expand your company overseas, you may use the above-mentioned registration.

What is meant by the term ‘Service mark’?

A service mark is a similar device to that of a trademark. It helps in distinguishing the services of a single company from that of others.

Conclusion

Trademarks play a crucial role in identifying the name of a company, product brand, etc. This is helpful in averting copyright infringement by third parties. Moreover, it would add more reputation to your company as well.