Securing a trademark for your business is a step that should not be overlooked. In fact, it should be one of the very first things established before launching a business to the public. The trademark is what provides brand security to operate and invest in the business.

As the foundation, the trademark could protect a business owner from potentially being hit with a cease and desist letter down the line for the unauthorized use of a trademark of an existing business, otherwise known as trademark infringement.

“I always ask people ‘Would you build a house on land you don’t own?’ Everyone always says no. So, it goes back to building a business or a brand and you don’t own it,” Pierce said. “People always say, ‘Well my business has to get popular first,’ or ‘I have to make a certain amount of sales.’ But the whole thing with the trademark is a brand name, and if you go through the process of registration, you are actually securing that investment to build a brand. I have seen people actually start the business, run the business, invest in the business, and make sales from the business, only to be hit with a cease and desist letter threatening to sue for the profits they received, or also threatening to be sued for the material and the actual inventory that they have because it bears their infringement trademark name.”

Rosezena Pierce

Sign up for our daily Newsletter.