{"id":5052,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:54","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/specimen-of-use.html"},"modified":"2024-05-22T21:43:19","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T02:43:19","slug":"specimen-of-use","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/specimen-of-use.html","title":{"rendered":"Specimen of Use"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Specimen of Use<\/h1>\n
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\n By FindLaw Staff<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Amber Sheppard, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

One of the best ways for a business owner to protect their goods and services from copycats is through federal trademark and service mark registration. Trademarks provide a way for small businesses, startups, or entrepreneurs to protect short phrases, designs, words, and symbols. These are marks. When it is for a product or good, it is a trademark. If it is for services, then it is a service mark. These marks identify and distinguish the source of goods or services<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Trademark law has more protection when there is federal trademark registration. This article dives into how to get this protection, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and acceptable specimens of use when filing your application.<\/p>\r\n

USPTO Registered Trademark Benefits<\/h2>\r\n

Registering with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)<\/a> is no longer a requirement to get trademark protection. The use of the mark<\/a> in commerce is enough for some protection. One use is posting the product or service on a webpage.<\/p>\r\n

Federal registration<\/a> for a mark needs the approval of a trademark application. The application process is through the mail or at uspto.gov<\/a>. Trademark registration has unique benefits<\/a> that the use of the mark alone does not have. For example:<\/p>\r\n