Understanding Trademark and Copyright
We need to know the difference between trademark and copyright before we proceed to explain how they both secure your blog and how to copyright and trademark your blog’s name and logo.
Copyright covers all intellectual, creative work from written text to logos automatically, without going through a unique process, as the copyright law protects your work. However, the copyright does not fully protect your business from infringement on some of these copyrighted works by other individuals; this is where a Trademark comes in.
How to get a copyright
To get a copyright, you have to add a copyright footer at the bottom of your blog and backdate it to when it came into existence. After this, it is advisable to file online at the U.S Copyright Office website because this is faster than filing a hard copy. Copies of all current blog content have to be submitted while filing with a $35 filing charge. The classification of a blog is always literary work when filing.
Trademark is used to secure all creative work used to make your business stand-out from others in the marketplace. It includes your logo, business name, brand colors, font, and so on. The trademark is registered, and no other business can use it. A trademark protects your work absolutely, while a copyright protects the source of your creative work.
How to get a trademark
The most important things to note before applying for a trademark are:
1.Your trademark has to be unique.
2. It must not be what another business is using.
3. It must not be a look-alike of an existing trademark.
How to trademark your blog’s name and logo.
Once a trademark has been chosen, a search is done using the Trademark Electronic Search System on the United States Patent and Trademark Office website. This step saves you money, so you won’t spend on it if someone else has applied for the trademark or approved for another business. Once the search process is concluded, and your trademark has not been registered, you fill an application form with the Trademark Electronic Application System on the USPTO website. The filing charge ranges from $225-$400 for a blog Trademark. The application is a legal process, and it is advisable to hire a lawyer to help apply for a trademark.
Conclusion; Trademark and copyright
With an understanding of trademark and copyright, it is advisable for blogs that intend to turn into a big business or have already gained a large follower-ship to trademark their business. This action helps to remain relevant and unique in the marketplace. In contrast, a blog that’s just starting copyrighting is best; it’s cheap and protects your authorship until you become significant in the market.
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