Trademark / Copyright

Pennsylvania Trademark and Copyright Attorneys

At High Swartz LLP, in Norristown, Pennsylvania, our trademark and copyright lawyers help clients select, register, maintain and enforce their copyrights and trademarks. We also represent businesses and individuals accused of trademark or copyright infringement.

What is a Trademark?

A trademark is a word, a name, a symbol, or any combination of words, numbers or symbols, used to identify the goods of a company. Merely using a trademark to identify and distinguish a company's goods (or using a service mark to distinguish services) from other companies' goods and services, creates trademark rights.

However, in order to receive protection under federal trademark law (the Lanham Act), you must register your trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark.

A trademark must be distinctly different from the generic name of the product it represents. For example, Kleenex® is a trademark for facial tissue, while White Out® is a trademark for correction fluid. A trademark must not be confused with a trade name. The trade name identifies the company. "The Coca-Cola Company" is a trade name while COKE® is a trademark.

What is a Copyright?

Copyright protects original literary, dramatic, musical and other artistic works. If you obtain a copyright to protect a particular piece of work, you then have the right to reproduce it, prepare derivative works based on it, distribute it, perform it publicly, and display it publicly.

In the growing field of internet copyright law, it pays to hire a copyright attorney who is familiar with the peculiarities of internet copy, images and sounds. Sometimes, a copyright is not the best way to protect your intellectual property. If you want to protect an invention or the goodwill associated with your product, a patent or a trademark is a better option.

Trademark and Copyright Services

Trademarks and copyrights are important assets and often possess significant value. Our business and commercial law attorneys help clients:

• Select, register and maintain their U.S. trademarks and copyrights
• Avoid losing a trademark or copyright through underuse in interstate commerce or by becoming generic (such as escalator and kerosene)
• Apply international treaties or other global trademark programs that may benefit trademarks
• Assert or defend their interests in trademark and copyright disputes

Trademark and Copyright Disputes

Our law firm represents clients in trademark and copyright prosecution matters, as well as those looking to halt unauthorized use of their trademark or copyright. We use our extensive experience to protect our client's interests in trademark litigation concerning:

• Website domain name disputes involving the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
• Trademark or copyright infringement or misappropriation
• Copyright or trademark counterfeiting
• Unfair competition
• Concurrent trademark or copyright registration
• Lanham Act violations

For assistance determining whether U.S. copyright law or trademark law is the appropriate means to protect your work, or if you are facing trademark and copyright litigation, contact our law offices at 610-275-0700.