How Trademark Infringement Can Shut Down Your Business
A trademark battle is being waged in federal court right now involving the National Football League (NFL), NFL Properties (NFLP), the New Orleans Saints, Liquid Ventures Inc., Logo Express Marketing Inc., Monogram Express, Storyville Apparel, and Fleurty Girl.
And the center of this suit is a Who Dat? Inc. They claim that all of these companies infringed against their trademark of the Who Dat? phrase.
Meanwhile the Saints claim it has owned the "Who Dat" trademark since 1988.
Full story here – Who Dat trademark case
While there are many lessons you could learn about protecting your intellectual property from this case, there is one very important one that may help you from being put out of business (or aid you in shutting down a company that is unlawfully stealing your ideas).
Trademarks Protect Your Company Name And Revenue Streams
Because of possible trademark infringement, Who Dat’s attorney’s shut down Fleurty Girl’s Facebook page…and the NFL has ordered Fleurty girl to stop selling the Who Dat labeled T-shirts. And this is BEFORE the case has been settled.
Think about that for a second. Imagine if one of the main revenue streams of your business was instantly shut down? Even worse, what if it was your ONLY revenue stream. Could your business survive a long and costly legal battle while NOT bringing in sales? Or would that cripple you?
An even if it could, how would you feel if you were forced to discontinue a marketing campaign that was bringing in tons of cash?
Trademark Your Business Identity
The United States Patent and Trademark office says the job of a trademark is to:
"protect words, names, symbols, sounds, or colors that distinguish goods and services from those manufactured or sold by others and to indicate the source of the goods. Trademarks, unlike patents, can be renewed forever as long as they are being used in commerce"
Make sure you protect your intellectual property and trademark EVERYTHING. This allows you exclusive rights to the brand name that represents your business. And it gives you rights to shut down other people who try and capitalize of your ideas, products and hard work.