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Update: Timeline of a Trademark Application

In Trademark 101 by Shannon Montgomery

Starting a business can be scary. There are a lot of unknowns. I absolutely understand that. Starting this law firm was, and at most times is still scary. So, as an attorney that works with business as they grow and build, I want to do all that I can to take out some of those unknowns. Filing a trademark registration …

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Dealing with Cease and Desist: the good the bad and the ugly

In Trademark 101 by Shannon Montgomery

If you’re in business for any amount of time it is likely that you will receive a cease and desist letter at some point throughout your journey. If you recall this article you’ll know that monitoring your intellectual property (trademarks/copyrights) is part of owning it. So, it isn’t surprising that you might get a cease and desist at some point …

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Arbitrary or Fanciful: Choose a Strong Mark

In Blog, Trademark 101 by Shannon Montgomery

In a recent article, I discussed the importance of not having a company name that is merely descriptive or generic This week I want to talk about the types of marks you do want, in order to obtain trademark registration with the USPTO. As mentioned earlier, distinctiveness gives a mark the ability to distinguish the goods or services upon which …

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SO YOU RECEIVED AN OFFICE ACTION…NOW WHAT?!

In Trademark 101 by Shannon Montgomery

Well, long time no chat over here on the blog am I right?! I have been busy at the firm which is never a bad thing. But, I had a great topic come up in practice this week so I thought hey! Let’s make some content, shall we? Back to business we go. The dreaded 2(d) Office Action You have …

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Social Media: Actually it isn’t the Wild West Part 1

In Copyrights 101, Trademark 101 by Shannon Montgomery

As promised here is the first installment of articles discussing the laws and regulations that apply to social media use and yes, to influencers. Intellectual property (IP) is a huge chunk of my law practice. I spend the majority of my time on trademark prosecution followed by some copyright registration and a lot of IP education. For a background on …

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10 Reasons To Register Your Trademark

In Trademark 101 by Shannon Montgomery

I’ve talked about the importance of trademark registration before. I’ve talked about when you should register, and why you should (or maybe shouldn’t) from a purely business perspective, but I don’t think I have ever laid out the exact reasons why registering your trademarks with the USPTO is a great idea if you’re a business owner with a brand worth …

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Why Social Media has made it Necessary to Register Your Trademarks

In Trademark 101 by Shannon Montgomery

Yes, your trademarks are protected by common law. And I know I’ve mentioned a time or two why registration with the USPTO is a good idea. While I stick by my previous statements about the benefits of registration, an event this week with a client has inspired me to put this article together and give you yet another reason why …

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Who Owns Your Podcast and More…

In Business 101, Trademark 101 by Shannon Montgomery

If you’re anything like me, you’re a podcast addict. From fitness to business growth there is something for everyone in the podcast world. More and more people are hopping on the podcast train as a way to provide more value to their customers, build their brand recognition, and drive sales within their company. One day I may hop on that …

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Marketing, Advertising, and Trademark Law

In Trademark 101 by Shannon Montgomery

Clearing your trademarks prior to launching a business or product is the first step you should be taking in protecting your intellectual property, and your business from unwanted trademark infringement suits. But what about clearing trademarks before launching a new advertising or marketing campaign? Sometimes your campaign involves a particular word or slogan, and it’s highly likely that you find …