Trademark Mistakes Small Business Owners Make That Lead to Lawsuits and Shutdowns

Описание: In this episode of Securing Your Brand, trademark attorneys Melissa Jeda and Holly McFall, partners of SecureMark Legal, break down the top five mistakes entrepreneurs make when trying to trademark their business names and logos and how to avoid them. Whether you’re running a weekend food truck, a boutique jewelry brand, or launching a product line, this episode is packed with real-life cautionary tales and actionable advice that could save your business from costly rebranding, lawsuits, and missed opportunities.

Melissa and Holly explain why waiting too long, filing in the wrong class, and listing the wrong owner on your application can put your entire brand at risk. They also share how to correctly handle descriptions and conduct comprehensive searches to avoid confusingly similar trademarks. If you’ve ever thought your business was too small to matter or ass
umed a state registration was enough, this episode is your wake-up call.

Expect to Learn:
Why “waiting until you grow” could kill your brand
The risks of confusing state vs. federal trademark registration
How to correctly identify the right class (and why it matters)
The dangers of being too generic or too specific in descriptions
What intent-to-use applications are and why they matter
Why it’s critical to list the right owner from day one
How improper trademark ownership affects funding and business sales

In Today’s Episode:
[00:00] - Episode Recap
[01:13] - Introduction to the top 5 trademark mistakes
[02:11] - Mistake #1: Waiting too long to file your trademark
[06:41] - Mistake #2: Filing in the wrong class of goods/services
[12:32] - Mistake #3: Being too generic or too specific in your description
[15:32] - Mistake #4: A poor search and missing intent-to-use applications
[18:00] - Mistake #5: Listing the wrong owner on your application
[22:48] - Final thoughts on risk, value, and protecting your brand from day one
[23:19] - How to connect with Holly & Melissa

Connect with Holly McFall:
LinkedIn:   / hollymcfall  
Instagram:   / gatorlaw19  
Facebook:   / holly.mcfall  

Connect with Melissa Jeda:
LinkedIn:   / melissa-jeda-29108813b  
Instagram:   / mhjeda  
Facebook:   / alizajeda  

Connect with SecureMark Legal
Website: https://securemarklegal.com/
LinkedIn:   / securemark-legal  
Instagram:   / securemark_legal  
Facebook:   / securemarklegal  

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