Episode description

Arun Swain (Fordham Law ‘19) and Harrison Kay (Fordham Law ‘19) join to discuss trademarks - what they are, how to determine if your startup should apply for  one, how trademarks protect your brand, and what you need to know if you decide to apply for one.  This episode is the third of a four-part series about intellectual property protection, and was researched and prepared by Arun Swain and Akbar Khan (Fordham Law ‘18).

Episode Roadmap:

● [:30]  Arun Swain and Harrison Kay introduce themselves as Fordham Law students under the direction of Professor Bernice Grant.

● [1:27] An overview of trademarks, how startups can benefit from trademarks, and differences between trademarks and copyrights.

● [4:09] Considerations for entrepreneurs when choosing a business name, based on factors that affect likelihood of obtaining trademark protection. 

● [9:37] Balancing marketing and legal concerns when selecting a business name. Importance of searching for available trademarks.

● [12:17] Timelines for filing to register a trademark, and details of trademark application process. 

● [19:06] Steps that must be taken once a trademark application is approved.  

● [22:42] Requirements for registering for federal trademark protection.

● [24:12] Benefits of hiring an attorney to assist in the trademark registration process.

● [26:26] Considerations for international trademark protection.