A lot of thought and research needs to be done before registering your blog name as a trademark. Let us have a close look at the procedure followed for registering a name as a trademark.
Online filing of the application through TEAS (Trademark Electronic Application System) is preferred over manual filing due to cost considerations.
The application is filed electronically on the website of United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
The electronic filing system TEAS requires you to check certain fields which describe the basis of your application.
If you happen to use the trademark in connection with your blog, you will have to tick on the “yes” field. This sub field lies under the main filed of “use in commerce”.
If the trademark has not been in use but you wish to use it in near future then click on the “yes” tab under the “intent to use” field.
It is also mandatory to mention:
To identify the exact class representing the goods and services is a pre requisite for registering a trademark.
The guidelines falling under NICE classification can be obtained through the UPSTO website.
The task is not limited to just categorizing your service or product, you also need to provide a detailed explanation of the blog services. So in addition to cataloging your goods/service you are also required to highlight the key services your blog offers.
Trademark can be anything from icons, symbols, logos, labels to a combination of these. It can be an image or a graphical design etc.
The primary task for validating a trademark starts with proper identification of the mark.
If the mark falls within the valid trademarks under the trademark laws then a statement stating the identification of the mark must be submitted.
While filing for the trademark through online mode (TEAS) ensures you give an apt description in the description box. Along with the name of the mark (in case of words or group of words) or attaching a file in JPG /GIF format (in case of icon, symbol, logo or graphical image).
Full details of the applicant needs to be submitted.
All of these information needs to be supplied with full care.
The trademark office requires you to submit a signed declaration certifying that all facts and information given stands true and authentic. The declaration can be signed either by any official of your organization or by you in person.
Trademarks often contain certain words or axioms that find no protection under trademark law. Therefore the trademark office makes the submission of a disclaimer mandatory in such cases.
If the submitted application shows the use of the name in your business it will call for submission of an enclosed sample of your mark.
The specimen will contain a GIF/JPG format trademark which is being used on your blog.
The specimen will be uploaded on the site of the trademark office and would be sent for approval.
The entire process of registering, declaring and submitting stands completed once you
After successful transaction you will receive a confirmation notice along with an email accepting your application with a serial number assigned to you.