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Showing posts from April, 2025

Responding to a Trademark Challenge: Your Legal Options

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 I’m a Trademark Attorney based in Westminster, California. I help people protect their brand names, logos, and ideas. Every day, I work with small businesses, artists, and entrepreneurs who are trying to grow their brands. One of the most common problems they face is dealing with a trademark challenge . If you've received a letter saying your trademark is being challenged, I want you to know you're not alone. It can be scary and confusing, especially if you’ve never dealt with something like this before. But don’t panic. You have options, and there are steps you can take to protect your business and your brand. In this article, I’ll explain what a trademark challenge is and what you can do about it — in simple terms. What Is a Trademark Challenge? Let’s start with the basics. A trademark is a word, phrase, logo, or design that helps people recognize your products or services. Think of big brands like Nike, Apple, or Coca-Cola. Their names and logos are protected by tradem...

Explaining the Madrid Protocol and Its Benefits for Global Trademarks

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 I’m a trademark attorney based in Westminster, California. I work with people and businesses who want to protect their brands. One of the most common questions I get is, “How can I protect my trademark in other countries?” That’s a great question—and the answer often involves something called the Madrid Protocol . Now, I know that might sound like a complicated legal term. But don’t worry—I’m going to break it down in a way that’s easy to understand. My goal is to help you see how powerful this system can be if you’re looking to expand your business outside of the United States. What Is a Trademark? Let’s start with the basics. A trademark is anything that shows customers who made a product or service. It can be a name, logo, slogan, sound, or even a color. Think about the golden arches of McDonald’s or the swoosh symbol from Nike. These are all trademarks. When you own a trademark, you have the right to stop other people from using something similar in a way that could conf...

Protecting Your Online Presence: Trademarking Domain Names

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 I’m a trademark attorney based in Westminster, California. I work with people and businesses every day to help protect their names, logos, and brands. One of the most common questions I get is: “Can I trademark my domain name?” The answer is yes—but there’s a little more to it than that. Let’s walk through what it really means to protect your domain name, how trademarks work, and why it matters for your business or online presence. What Is a Trademark? First, let’s talk about what a trademark is. A trademark is a word, phrase, logo, or design that identifies your brand and sets it apart from others. Think of it like your business’s “name tag.” It tells the world, “Hey, this belongs to me!” You’ve probably seen lots of trademarks before. The golden arches? That’s McDonald’s. The swoosh on a pair of sneakers? That’s Nike. Even names like “Google” and “YouTube” are trademarks. When you trademark something, you’re getting legal protection. That means no one else can use the same...