Register Your Trademark or You May End up a Headline

Sometimes you just can’t believe what is found news worthy and worse yet what people will sue one another over. I ran across an article where two software applications software companies are disputing over the phrase, “Pull my finger”. Both companies have software applications that can be downloaded to multitasking cell phones to make flatulence sounds. One company states that the phrase has a unique brand identity that its competitor has infringed. They want $50,000 to settle the dispute and may sue in federal court. The other company disagrees of course and in a formal complaint says that the phrase is a common “descriptive” term used in its advertising and cannot be trademarked.

It seems confusing to me what types of trademarks there are, what you can trademark and what you can’t. What happens if you use some weird saying your grandpa said to you when you were little and you use it in an advertisement for your product? I guess, like auto and life insurance, it’s better to be prepared than not. Trademark registration can be easy and trademark search and application can be affordable when done by an experienced lawyer. When you want to start a trademark application, be sure that you find a lawyer that will give you the one on one attention needed to cover your rights as far as legally possible. Consultations are usually free and taking precautions can keep you off the news headlines.