Frequently Asked Questions

What steps should be taken before adding TM to the end of your mark?

Before adding the TM symbol to the end of your mark, there are several steps you should take. Firstly, it's crucial to conduct thorough research to ensure that no similar mark already exists. This can be done using the Trademark Electronic Search System. If a similar mark is found, you'll need to make changes to your mark to avoid infringement. Once you've confirmed that your mark is unique, you can start using the TM symbol. There are three main techniques for placing the symbol to notify competitors of your intent to use the mark. These include placing the symbol at the first use of the trademark but not on subsequent uses, placing the symbol next to the trademark every time you use it, or using a different font or formatting for the trademarked words to differentiate them from other text. When adding the TM symbol to your mark, it's generally accepted to place it at the top left corner of the mark in superscript text. If this doesn't look good, you can place it at the bottom right corner in subscript text.