Comments on: When do trademarks expire? http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/07/when-do-trademarks-expire/ Editors from FSB magazine answer your pressing small-business questions. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:07:19 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Scott Ledford, Nashville Tennessee http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/07/when-do-trademarks-expire/#comment-14 Scott Ledford, Nashville Tennessee Tue, 08 May 2007 22:02:19 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/07/when-do-trademarks-expire/#comment-14 The big issue that was completely sidestepped in this question is whether the person asking the question needs a patent or a trademark. He asked about protecting an "idea". Generally speaking, you do not trademark ideas...you patent ideas. You use trademarks to indicate the source of a good or service. Trademarks are symbols of origin or manufacture. They are not vehicles for protecting ideas, which is the domain of patents. The big issue that was completely sidestepped in this question is whether the person asking the question needs a patent or a trademark. He asked about protecting an "idea". Generally speaking, you do not trademark ideas…you patent ideas. You use trademarks to indicate the source of a good or service. Trademarks are symbols of origin or manufacture. They are not vehicles for protecting ideas, which is the domain of patents.

]]> By: R Currie, Atlanta, GA http://smallbusiness.blogs.cnnmoney.cnn.com/2007/05/07/when-do-trademarks-expire/#comment-13 R Currie, Atlanta, GA Tue, 08 May 2007 20:35:48 +0000 http://askfsb.blogs.fsb.com/2007/05/07/when-do-trademarks-expire/#comment-13 Trademarks do not "protect ideas" in the sense asked by the person submitting the origianl question. Trademarks and service marks protect devices, such as names, symbols, colors, and other things, used by a person or company in commerce to identify the source and quality of their goods and services. They do not protect ideas. From the nature of the question, it sounds as if the person is really asking about patents. Patents protect inventions that meet certain requirements set up by the patent laws. Trademarks do not "protect ideas" in the sense asked by the person submitting the origianl question. Trademarks and service marks protect devices, such as names, symbols, colors, and other things, used by a person or company in commerce to identify the source and quality of their goods and services. They do not protect ideas.

From the nature of the question, it sounds as if the person is really asking about patents. Patents protect inventions that meet certain requirements set up by the patent laws.

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