Last week, I wrote about how several dozen trademark applications that were filed last century are still pending at the USPTO. Trademark registration can be a long journey, and trademark protection in general takes a long time and can last a long time. This metaphor is especially timely because I completed the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday (and still quite sore)!
Protecting a trademark has some of the characteristics of running a marathon.
- You need to prepare in advance:
- Trademark: Pick a unique name, perform a clearance search.
- Running: exercise, train, eat properly in advance.
- Proper fundamentals are helpful:
- Trademark: a good name is much easier to protect in the short term and the long term.
- Running: proper striding and technique is key the longer you are running.
- Doing it yourself is much more difficult than with a “coach”
- Trademark: using an attorney improves your chances of registration and is likely to reduce your overall risk
- Running: some guidance in training and getting in shape
- The race is long:
- Trademark: Registration takes about 1 year on average. Trademark protection can last for years – or longer.
- Running: 26.2 miles is a long way unless you are superhuman!
Whether you are running or protecting your trademark, some of the same ingredients are needed for success, like:
endurance, strength, passion, confidence, and avoiding road blocks.
