Registering a trademark can be a confusing and stressful process for business owners and individuals. Very few people can actually read and understand Federal laws, and some people try to complete the entire trademark process without assistance. Corporations and businesses worldwide make successful trademark registrations each day that protect their intellectual property because they have taken the time to understand the steps of the trademark registration process.

The following is a stress-free list of tips for registering a trademark:

Consult a Trademark Lawyer

Trademark lawyers understand the Federal and corporate laws necessary throughout the trademark registration process. Before registering a trademark, a business owner or corporation must understand and classify their product or service needed for trademark protection and be sure that it can actually be protected. After the initial application is completed, a series of deadlines with further paperwork must be met to ensure a successful trademark registration.

Understand What is Protected

Many business owners cannot differentiate between a copyright and a trademark. They may seem similar, but the nature of protection is very different for each. A copyright is typically used to protect literary, photographic, dramatic, or musical creations used for sale, rent, lease, or profit. A trademark is an actual name identifier used to separate one business name, source, or service from its worldwide competition.

Register Your Trademark Early

Trademark applications are not approved in a timely manner. The research performed after the application for a trademark is submitted is tremendous. A series of top trademark attorneys review trademark applications for errors or conflicting registration information compared to a worldwide database of trademarks. The trademark is published for review in a popular trade journal and the trademark can be disputed by another company or service provider. The process is lengthy and requires a minimum of 12 months to complete. A business that wants to protect their trademark should submit their application early to avoid lengthy delays or possible conflicts.

Understand Registration Lengths

After an application is made to register a trademark, it is reviewed for errors or conflicts. If the application is approved, a certificate of registration is sent to the applicant. In the past, trademark registrations had termination dates of 20 years. Under current law, a trademark registration is valid for only 10 years. The renewal process begins in the 8th year and must be completed in a timely manner or loss of the trademark will occur.