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Trademark Essentials for your North Carolina Business

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A trademark is any word, symbol, graphic image, or combination thereof that your business uses to distinguish itself and its products from those of other businesses. Registering a trademark can help your business protect its brand and identity by serving as public notice of ownership over that mark. Trademarks can be registered at both the state and national level and often include a complicated application. As trademark registration can be confusing, this article provides some general guidance for trademark registration in North Carolina.

The first question with trademark registration is the value of registration itself. What kind of business are you running? If your trademark is essential to the life and success of your business, then you want to register for maximum legal protection. Trademarks are voluntary, so if your trademark is not essential to the life of your business, especially in the beginning stages, your resources might be better spent elsewhere.

If trademark registration is essential, it is next important to decide if state or federal registration is more valuable. Your trademark receives protection throughout the entire country if you register with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. While the protection is broad, this comes with a more time-consuming process. It might benefit your business to complete North Carolina trademark registration to protect against state infringement in the interim.

Once you have decided to move forward with trademark registration, North Carolina has a few important requirements. In addition to filling out the required forms on the Secretary of State website, you must prove that your trademark is in use, and advertising alone is not sufficient. In addition to completing a trademark application, it is a good idea to provide the Secretary of State with “actual specimens” or evidence of your trademark in use.

Are you considering applying for a trademark? Give us a call! Our team is committed to providing turnkey solutions to help grow your business. Contact our office to discuss trademark strategy, brand protection, and registration requirements.

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  • Being a first time business owner, you want to make sure you're making all the right decisions. Choosing McCormick Law & Consulting, along with Emma and Taylor, made the process so easy! Emma understood right away what my primary concerns were, and was able to execute everything in a very timely manner! She was extremely easy to talk to and she took the time to explain everything to me, settling my nerves with taking this next big step. Taylor made the process of making it all official completely stress free.
    Crystal G.

  • McCormick Law & Consulting was integral in the creation of our non-profit. We promised our 12 y/o son that we would keep fighting cancer for kids like him but we couldn’t have kept that promise without John McCormick and his team. We were hooked at our first meeting when John simply asked “ Tell me about you son.” McCormick Law and Consulting took care of all the legal work while allowing us to focus on our mission. John and his team continue to be a great resource and supporter of D-Feet Cancer The Dalton Fox Foundation. We couldn’t have asked for better legal representation. Thank you McCormick Law & Consulting.

    William F.

  • I definitely could have created my new business, Davis Wealth Management LLC, but boy that would have been a mistake. Because business formation is not an area in which I practice, I had no idea where my blind spots were, and let me tell you there were plenty. The knowledge I received from the firm is invaluable.

    John McCormick and his firm are very reasonably priced and quickly and efficiently assisted me in creating my new business. It was completely turn key; they did everything for me.  I can't recommend their services enough. Also, huge shoutout to Taylor who kept me informed every step of the way!

    James D.
  • I highly recommendMcCormick Law & Consulting! My Father and I live in two separate states and the properties he needed legal services for are in Virginia. I reach out to Taylor on two separate occasions and she was very responsive and professional. The first time we used their services it went so smoothly that by the time I needed their services again I knew I could just send over the necessary documents, pay my invoice and rest assured it would all get taken care of. They eliminated the stress that comes with handling some else's affairs and I so appreciate that.
    Heather C.
  • From the the very 1st conversation with their office it was clear they would be responsive to all my questions and any support with my business. They are relatable and make their customers feel comfortable with any questions and or concerns that might arise while using their services. I am happy to have found them to support me with my small business needs!
    Lisa N.
  • I can't say enough great things about the professional team at McCormick Law & Consulting! We really had no idea of who to trust and who we could count on for quick and professional service in the Hampton Roads area for getting our new business up and running smoothly and the Team at McCormick Law & Consulting really knocked it out of the park with us!
    Jerry G.
  • I had the good fortune of working with McCormick Law on a business sales contract. I sent them the initial draft provided by the buyer along with a few notes about my specific concerns. They carefully went through the document and provided meaningful additions and corrections that better protected my interests. Thanks to Bobby and John for their personalized attention.
    Arthur B.
  • Mr. McCormick and his entire team were amazing! They assisted me in a legal matter concerning a business dispute. Mr. McCormick is highly experienced, ethical, dedicated, and was prepared to fight my legal matter in court if necessary. I thank the entire team for believing in me and would highly recommend them to anyone!!
    Jeanette L.
  • We used McCormick Law to start up another LLC and it was a great experience. I have used other lawyers and attorneys in the past and I experienced delayed responses and it was what I have come to expect.From the first interactions with Robert and his team, I was surprised to how responsive they were. I even mentioned to my new business partner that this was not normal and I was very happy.Needless to say I will be using McCormick Law for all of my business needs in the future.
    Colton S.
  • I utilized this firm for help on a real estate matter. I felt comfortable with the advice I received and am happy to continue doing business with them and referring others to the practice. Everyone I engaged with was welcoming and made the process very easy.
    Christian S.

  • John and his team were great to work with. They provided advice for starting my business and set everything up in an efficient and timely manner. I will definitely recommend them to others!

    Elizabeth H.

  • I contacted McCormick Law firm to register my moving service in NC. They did an outstanding job. Completed the process way sooner than I expected. Thank you, Taylor.

    Steve T.

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    McCormick Law, PC d/b/a McCormick Law & Consulting and Driving Defense Law is a boutique law firm located in Norfolk, Virginia & Raleigh, North Carolina, that seamlessly serves clients throughout Virginia and North Carolina. Whether you are a new or existing client of the firm, McCormick Law, PC, cannot represent you on any new matter until the firm has made a determination that there is no conflict of interest and that it is willing to accept the new engagement. The testimonials on this website reflect the real-life experiences and opinions of our clients. However, the experiences are personal to those particular clients, and may not necessarily be representative of all clients. We do not claim, and you should not assume, that all clients will have the same experience. Your outcome may vary.

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