What Onel does
Onel helps you protect your trademark. Sound trademark protection consists of a number of aspects. This includes registration, if you want to introduce your trademark successfully and give it maximum protection. But registration alone is not enough. Let us take you through the world of trademark protection, starting with the creation of a new company or trademark name. To find out if the name you want is available for use, you will have to carry out a trademark search. If your name proves available, you can register it, and have it monitored so that you can act quickly in case of a trademark infringement.
STEP 1: New Name
You have created a new trademark, congratulations! Perhaps the best thing about introducing a new company or a new product, is trying to find a good trademark name or company name, with a matching logo. Once they’re in place, your business or product can truly take off.
Whether it is a company name, a logo or a product name, or a combination, a trademark needs to be protected. After all, it distinguishes you from others in the market. Trademark protection helps you prevent others from using the same trademark, or a very similar trademark, registered for similar products or services. This will help you keep your competitive lead. Read here what to look out for when designing a new trademark.
STEP 2: Trademark Availability
Have you found a suitable trademark? Before you actually use and register a (new) trademark, you must first check its availability. If you do not, you may find yourself infringing another trademark right. And that could have dire consequences. Of course, you can google your trademark or business name, but this is not enough to assess all the risks. What you need, is a trademark register search. Click here to read all about trademark searches.
STEP 3: Trademark Registration
Great, the outcome of the trademark search is that your trademark is still available! Now have it registered promptly, before you use it, because the use alone creates no rights for you. Trademark rights can only be acquired following registration in a trademarks register. Once your trademark is registered, you can take action in case of infringement. This will help you keep your competitors at bay. Read here how registration works.
STEP 4: Trademark Watching
Has your trademark been registered? Great. Now you have to maintain your lead on your competitors. A valid trademark registration alone is not enough for sound trademark protection. Taking action when faced with an infringement is also part of it. Only this will keep the trademark distinctive and unique. Always keep your eyes and ears open to signal infringements. Also, it is necessary that you check the trademark registers every day for new trademark applications that are similar to your trademark. Onel can help you monitor trademarks. How this works, is explained here.
STEP 5: Trademark Infringement
A trademark registration is a powerful weapon in challenging infringements. But it doesn’t rule them out altogether! After all, most competitors like to tap into other people´s successes.
To use and enforce your trademarks, you may have to take action against third parties. This is something you must initiate, as the trademark owner. The official trademark institutions will not take action. You may also be accused of infringement, even if it isn’t justified. To find out what to do in case of an infringement, read this.