How To Manage Your Ohio Trademark Registration

Interested in Ohio trademark registration? It is a big step for a growing brand to take because doing so gives you a greater level of protection against infringement on the name you have made for your organization.

The process of registering a trademark in Ohio is different from the federal procedure. Consult our guide to find out what you need to know—or better yet, have DoNotPay do the work for you.

What Is a Trademark?

A trademark is defined by Ohio Revised Code Section 1329.54(A) as any word, name, symbol, device, or their combination adopted and used by a person to identify and distinguish their goods, including a unique product, from the goods of other persons, and to indicate the source of the goods, even if it is unknown.

Essentially, a trademark is a recognizable part of your business’ brand that you register at the state or federal level. Registering any of the following ensures it is protected against unauthorized use by other companies:

• Designs
• Slogans
• Images
• Logos
• Phrases
• Words

Service marks are similar but protect the services of a given brand, as opposed to trademarks, which cover goods. Copyright protects creative works and recordings. These legal distinctions help to protect the value you have developed in your brand.

Are Trademarks and Service Marks Necessary in Ohio?

You may need a trademark or service mark if you operate a brand active at the state level intending to engage in national or international activity.

Smaller businesses working in limited markets can often do fine without trademark protection. As your organization grows, it will take on new competition, so registering your brand assets gives you legal recourse if another company uses them without authorization.

The Difference Between State and Federal Trademarks

If you were registering your trademark at the federal level, you would have to do so with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and consult their database to ensure your brand does not infringe on another on file.

By registering your trademark at the state level in Ohio, you make it available for public scrutiny, which will ensure it does not conflict with another mark already in use.

How To Trademark a Name in Ohio

You can trademark your name by applying with the state of Ohio. There are certain limitations as to what you can register. Your mark may be denied if it uses:

• Immoral, deceptive, or scandalous matter
• Disparaging matter in connection with persons living or dead, institutions, beliefs, or national symbols
• The flag or coat of arms or other insignia of the United States, a state or municipality, or foreign nation
• The name, signature, or portrait of any living person (unless used with written consent)
• A mark which is “merely descriptive,” “deceptively misdescriptive,” or primarily geographically descriptive
• A surname
• A trademark or service mark previously registered in the state of Ohio or at the federal level with the USPTO

How To Register a Trademark in Ohio

The Ohio trademark application (form 555) is much simpler than its federal counterpart, requiring only the following information about your mark:

• Description
• Explanation of use in association with your brand
• A description of goods used in connection to it
• Which class it falls under
• The length of time its been used in Ohio and otherwise

File your application by following these steps:

1. Complete the form 555
2. Include a specimen of your mark
3. Submit your application package to the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office

You can submit an application in five ways:

How Much Does Ohio Trademark Registration Cost?

You must pay a filing fee to submit your application. The cost varies, depending on how quickly you would like it processed:

How Long Does a Trademark Last?

A trademark is valid for ten years. However, if still in use between years five and six, you can renew your trademark.

DoNotPay Will Streamline Your Ohio Trademark Registration

No matter how simple the Ohio trademark application form may be, it will take time out of your day to deal with it. If your schedule is too busy for this extra paperwork, then let us do it for you. DoNotPay is an AI-powered robot lawyer that excels in streamlining tedious administrative procedures.

Our Trademark Registration tool will manage the following:

• Disclosure of required information
• Execution and submission of the application
• Facilitation of review and signing

To file your trademark registration application in a matter of minutes, follow these steps:

1. Subscribe to DoNotPay
2. Choose our Trademark Registration product
3. Describe your trademark and answer our questions
4. Pay the filing fee

Once we have completed the process, we will keep you up to date by providing an application tracking number. We will also give your contact details to the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office for further communication.

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