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Michael Buffer still earns money because of a famous sentence he repeated over the years while working as an announcer at the WWE (back when it was WWF). The words “Let’s get ready to rumble” became a staple and trademark of every WWE match for generations. The sentence alone, if not for Buffer’s genius, wouldn’t earn him any money. But Michael Buffer did the smart thing and trademarked these few words. Now, every time they’re used in video games, on television, for marketing purposes, or anything affiliated, the money goes to Buffer’s pocket.
You can see the power trademarking holds and how it can help you and your business. McDonald’s sign is trademarked and no one else can use it; it holds a name and it symbolizes something. If you want to open your franchise, you need to get creative or pay McDonald’s for the rights. To keep your ideas safe, your creativity and your future business dealings, trademarking is the first step.
No One Else Can Use It
We talked about the example of Michael Buffer and how he trademarked his famous sentence. If someone asked you why you should trademark anything, this example would summarize the basis. To trademark means to protect; it means no one else can use it for whatever purpose, and it means you can rest assured your business and its integrity stay well untacked. In other words, you have “ exclusive rights,” and if any of your competitors try to use it similarly, you can always take some form of legal action to prevent it. So, you’re protected, and you can spread your wings.
There are no restrictions, marketing-wise, to what you can do from that point on. You can take a more aggressive approach and spread the name as much and as often as possible so it stays well embedded in people’s minds. You can take a slower approach and give yourself some time to work on your reputation. The important thing is that you have a name that’s unique to you. Why would you allow anyone else to make money off of your brand, as imitations sometimes go a long way, and people don’t usually tell the difference? It’s only hurting your prospects.
Instead, Only You Can Use It
Those “exclusive rights,” we mentioned that they extended far more than some of us know or can imagine. Among other things, it means you can put your logo on anything. Those marketing approaches have a wide scope of different opportunities. T-shirts, caps, and office supplies can carry your name. You can put it on mugs and all over the Internet. The more, the better, and the higher the chance of people taking notice. Before you try to do anything like this, you need to check an official register of trademarked names and brands.
You can find a lot of reliable providers, and once you’re done with trademark filing, some agencies also help you maintain its status over time. Most of the work is done online these days, so there is no need to put extra miles just for that. Once it’s all done, you can sit comfortably and enjoy. Now, you can think of those approaches we mentioned and what they have to offer to expand.
It’s About Trust
You probably remember the times when you would get into your grandad’s car and, with joy, you would open the glove compartment to find tasty caramel candy with nice writing that somehow reminds you of some land far away: Werther’s Original! There’s a bond, a trustworthy relationship between us and those little pieces of heaven. Now, when you walk past some supermarket aisle, you stop at least for a second to grab a pack. But why these when there are so many different brands?
Trust! It’s about trust.
The name and what you associate with it are why you’re coming back to them. You won’t settle for any knockoffs because you’ve tasted the original, and now you know it by heart. Imagine if they never trademarked their name and brand. It doesn’t mean they would run out of business; you wouldn’t stop for a split second to take a look at them and buy them while passing by. Different imitating brands would come along, some maybe with a similar product, and with years, you couldn’t tell the difference.
Same but Different
It’s a free world, and everyone can make their own creative decisions as much as they like. As you know, great minds think alike, so there’s a slight chance that one in a million logos might resemble your brand and evoke the same association among your customers. To trademark means to stop this from happening. Once you trademark your logo, you make sure that there aren’t any other businesses in the official register that use something so similar that people might confuse it with your brand. This happens a lot, and it’s no wonder it does.
You have people opening and closing businesses at every corner, and sometimes, when you want to make a logo or a name, you remember something you saw at one point on a billboard while passing by, and the image stays with you. So you have trademarking to make sure this doesn’t happen.
You Can Sell Later If You Want
If you ever decide to sell, what adds up on your asset list is the name itself. And sometimes, people sell the name for more money than the whole operation. All the logistics and workpower on its own are worth a lot, but the name is what makes it run. For that to happen, the name itself needs to be trademarked. Otherwise, whoever wants to buy it can’t know its value or if it’s worth buying at all. The bigger the business, the more the name is worth, but not if the name doesn’t exist on paper anywhere.
If it ever comes to a legal dispute, you have the upper hand. You’re in a better position and not at a disadvantage. With every judge and jury, you have a strong argument in your favor. This can happen and has happened before. It’s a safer bet to not take chances and make sure you’re on the right side of things.
Final Thoughts
Trademarking isn’t just about legal protection—it’s about securing your business identity, ensuring brand recognition, and setting yourself up for long-term success. It gives you exclusive rights, prevents others from profiting off your hard work, and builds trust with your customers. Whether you’re just starting out or already established, a trademark solidifies your place in the market and adds tangible value to your brand. So, take the smart step—protect your business, safeguard your creativity, and let your name stand strong for years to come.
Further Reading:
Why Do Businesses in Every Industry Need a Lawyer on Their Side?
