While consulting with an attorney is the best way to get expert answers to your questions about trademarks, there are a few other questions you should ask yourself and keep in mind if you’ve decided it’s time to register your trademark.

1. How Far Do You Need to Expand Your Protection?
You’ll want to think about the scope of your business and product. For example, if you’re only offering your services locally, then a trademark attorney can help you register your trademark in your state. If you’re going to be selling your product elsewhere or shipping to other states or overseas, then you’ll have to register your trademark on a broader scale.

2. Is Your Trademark Original?
Think about how similar your trademark idea is to others that are out there. You don’t want to have your trademark confused with another popular symbol because it looks too similar. Nor do you want to use cliché or common words and phrases.

3. Is Your Trademark Memorable?
Say you’ve got an original trademark. The next question to ask yourself is whether or not it’s memorable to your customers and potential audiences for your product or service. You’re going to want something catchy or visually appealing that will stick in your customers’ brains and trigger associations with your product, and only your product.

4. Can You Use Your Trademark Without Registering It?
If you have an original trademark that doesn’t bear resemblance to anything else out there, then you might wonder why you can’t just use it without registering it. Of course, this is an option, but keep in mind that by registering your trademark, you’re legally protecting it, and a trademark attorney will be able to take your case to court if someone else infringes upon your trademark.

5. Understanding What a Trademark Is
It’s important to understand exactly what a What a trademark is is—the symbol, phrase, word, or other cue that represents your brand, business, or service. Registering a trademark with the help of an attorney doesn’t protect your other material or content. A trademark isn’t the same as a general copyright on your material, so be sure to keep that in mind.

Once you’ve decided upon a trademark, asked yourself the above questions, and evaluated exactly what else you want out of a trademark registration, contacting an attorney to secure your trademark is the next step. If you’re looking for a trademark attorney in the Chicago area, Jayaram Law Group can help with all manners of trademark law.