Can I Trademark My Logo?
Key points:
- A logo can be protected by trademark registration
- The process is the same as with a word trademark
- A registered logo containing words provides some protection for the words within it
- A logo trademark can help you avoid a descriptiveness objection (class 41)
The short answer to the question “can trademark my logo?” is “Yes, you can”.
Logo Registration Process
The process for registering your logo as a trademark is exactly the same as trademarking your name. Specifically, the trademark application is drafted and submitted to the government who then check it for the same prerequisites as for an application for a word trademark. The two main prerequisites are 1) assessing whether the trademark is too descriptive (if at all) of the goods and services it applies to, and 2) whether the trademark is too similar to any trademarks already on the official trademark registry.
The protection it gives you
Once registered, a logo trademark will protect the logo representation as a whole. If the logo happens to contain words that are very prominent, then those words will likely find some good secondary protection, though not as much as they would for a plain words trademark. The extent of this secondary protection is entirely case-by-case and is difficult to assess – we can provide you advice on your particular logo. Also, if the words of your trademark are somewhat descriptive and are difficult to protect with a trademark, a logo trademark can help you avoid a descriptiveness objection (class 41).
Need some advice on this?
If you need some more advice in your particular case, we offer a free initial consultation.