Written by Jan Buza
Co-founder of Trama
The answer to whether you should apply for a trademark or a patent depends on what you're trying to protect.
A trademark protects a brand's image and reputation against infringement. A trademark usually protects the company/product logo, name or slogan and prevents others from using brand elements that could be considered "confusingly similar", which could lead to consumer confusion.
A patent is intended for the protection of the technical aspects of an invention.
Bluetooth is an example of a patent (or a series of patents, to be exact). But it is not the name Bluetooth that the patent protects - the actual title of the main patent no.6590928 is "Frequency hopping piconets in an uncoordinated wireless multi-user system". The name "Bluetooth" is protected by a trademark.
You can learn more about the differences between common intellectual property protection mechanisms in this article.
Will I be able to use different colour versions of my trademark?
Does the price of trademark registration depend on the number of classes?
What is the price of an additional trademark class in China?
Should you file your trademark yourself to save money on attorney fees?
Can trademarks be filed on behalf of foreign-domiciled trademark applicants?
As a foreigner, do I need trademark registration to sell products in the US?
What is the price for 2 or more trademark classes in Australia?
What are the chances of opposition to my trademark application?
Do "classes" refer to how many trademarks of one brand I want?
I want to buy an existing trademark. What would be the price to do this?
How much does adding a class to my CA trademark application cost?
If I raise an opposition against a similar trademark, will it cost me anything?
Our team of experienced trademark attorneys is here to help you! Simply send us an email outlining your request and we'll be happy to assist you.
