Intellectual Property Protection Services
Protect Your Brand. Secure Your Creative Work and Strategically Grow
Consulting
Developing Strong Brands
At Impact Branding Consulting we understand that your brand identity and creative assets are among your most valuable business resources and protecting these assets are a part of your strategic growth plan. Protecting your identity and your assets starts with securing proper legal recognition through trademarks and copyrights with the USPTO and US Copyright Office.
We make the process seamless by focusing on the strategic plans and risk management goals you need for your business. Our strategic process includes:
- Comprehensive Name Search – Before filing, we conduct a thorough search to confirm availability of the IP you want to obtain; which will reduce the risk of rejection of your application.
- Develop your Strategic IP Readiness – Because we understand brands and what the IP examiner is needing, we analyze the desired specimen for trademark and the documents for copyrighting using our 10 point assessment. We make sure your IP is ready to be filed. This is a huge time saver and cost saver.
- Application Filing – We help you to prepare and file your trademark or copyright application accurately and efficiently with the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) or the U.S. Copyright Office.
- Clear Guidance – You’ll receive straightforward updates and guidance throughout the process so you know exactly where your application filing stands and where we are in the process. You will never be left guessing about what is going on.
- Strategic Action Review meetings – We conduct scheduled Strategic Action Review {SAR) check in’s to keep you updated and stay on track with your strategic growth plan.
Trademark vs. Copyright: What’s the Difference?
Copyright
A copyright protects original works of authorship — such as books, music, art, photographs, films, software, and online content. It ensures that only you (or those you authorize) can reproduce, distribute, perform, or display your work.
™ Trademark
A trademark protects brand identifiers used in commerce — such as your business name, logo, or tagline. It gives you exclusive rights to use that mark in connection with the goods or services you provide.
In short when thinking which IP protects what? In the simplest way think:
- Copyright = creative works and writing. Learn More
- Trademark = brand identity, logos and company name. Learn More
Schedule Your Power Chat to get clear guidance on the brand strategy for your creative work or brand.
When to File an Application to protect your Intellectual Property?
When to File a Copyright?
- As soon as your creative work is created and finalized in a tangible form (written, recorded, or saved).
- Before you publish, distribute, or sell your work publicly.
- If you plan to license, sell, or publicly display your work.
When to File a Trademark?
- Before launching a new business, brand, product, or service OR as soon as possible
- When you have chosen a business name, designed a logo, or tagline that you want to exclusively own in your industry.
- If you’re expanding your business and want to protect your brand on a national level.
We also offer the opportunity to bundle your Intellectual Property filing so that we do the work to protect both of your assets at the same time. During your Power Chat, we will explore the best options for your strategic growth plan.
When Not to File
Do Not File a Copyright If:
- Your idea hasn’t been expressed in a final and tangible form (ideas themselves cannot be copyrighted).
- The work consists of common phrases used in everyday life, common knowledge facts, or public domain content.
- You don’t plan to distribute, publish, or monetize the work you have created.
- If you are not the original author of the work
Do Not File a Trademark If:
- You haven’t yet used the business name, business logo, or tagline in commerce because the USPTO standards require that trademarks are in actual use
- Your chosen IP mark is generic or descriptive (for example, “Best Coffee Shop”). This would most likely fail examination and be denied.
- You don’t intend to actively build or protect the brand in commerce.
- You did not have the trademark designed for you. Logo’s created by tools like clipart where others can easily use the same logo will most likely fail examination and be denied.
Filing too early or on the wrong type of asset will waste money and time. While, filing too late could leave your brand or creative work unprotected and at risk. Our job is to help you understand your brand and make sure you understand your options.
Because we use our 10-point assessment to analyze trademark and copyright readiness you have the advantage of reducing the chances of wasting money and time filing for an IP application that may not pass the examiner process.
Schedule Your Power Chat
to get clear guidance on the brand strategy for your creative work or brand.