Trademarking your product names, business name, logos, slogans and/or Domain Names is one of the most important business decisions you will make. Trademark holders have the ability to prevent their competitors and other third parties from using their registered trademark without permission. A trademark is essential for all companies that profit from product name or business name recognition.

Companies who fail to register their trademark, or companies currently conducting business using an unregistered trademark, run the risk of losing some or all of their rights to continue to use their mark. This normally occurs when a competitor or unrelated third party trademarks a mark that is the same or substantially similar to an existing mark. Few companies have the financial strength to overcome the full or partial loss of their right to use their own business name, product names, logos and slogans. The greatest expense of a trademark is the lack of it.

The federal trademark registration process is relatively straightforward. A trademark may be filed at the state, federal or international level. Trademark filings at the state level generally cost less than those filed at the federal or international levels. Thankfully, one does not have to incur the expense of unusually high hourly attorneys' fees to simply register a trademark.

Once a trademark search has been performed and you have determined that your mark is available the next step is to prepare and file the trademark application. The filing fee associated with filing a single federal trademark application is currently $335.00 per class. The federal trademark application preparation fee is $250.00 per application. For immediate assistance— with no hourly fees— visit http://www.4trademark.com or call a trademark registration professional toll free at 1-800-4-TRADEMARK, or 1-800-487-2336.

The hiring of an attorney is an important decision that should not be based entirely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask about the attorney's qualifications and experiences.