Trademark Basics: What Every Small Business Should Know Now, Not Later

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The Birmingham Public Library’s Patent and Trademark Resource Center will be hosting a free workshop on Wednesday, October 28, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. Join us in the Library’s Arrington Auditorium for “Trademark Basics: What Every Small Business Should Know Now, Not Later.” This program will be led by Craig Morris of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in Washington D.C.  Mr. Morris’ program will focus on several topics of interest to small business owners who are considering filing for a trademark with the USPTO:
  • How trademarks, copyrights, patents, domain names, and business name registrations all differ. 
  • Why it is important for any new business to select a trademark that will be both federally registrable and legally protectable, highlighting factors critical when choosing a mark. 
  • The importance of doing a complete search and whether an attorney should be used. 
  • What may happen if another trademark owner believes it has stronger rights in a mark and issues a "cease-and-desist" letter. 
  • Information on what the USPTO does in the federal registration process and how to avoid "scams" perpetrated by companies that request fees for services not required by the USPTO. 
  • What happens after registration. 
Craig Morris
Mr. Morris works within the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks in the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Virginia. Currently, he is the Managing Attorney for Trademark Outreach, spearheading the effort for increased USPTO educational activities in the area of trademark fundamentals. For fourteen years prior, he was the Managing Attorney for the Trademark Electronic Application System, focusing on making the Trademark Operation a total e-government environment. Mr. Morris has been with the USPTO since 1983, previously serving as a Law Office Examining Attorney, Senior Attorney, and Managing Attorney.

This program is free and open to the public.  It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to hear one of the nation's leading trademark experts. Please call our Government Documents Department at 205-226-3620 if you have any questions.

Government Documents Department
Central Branch
Birmingham Public Library

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