Are you one of those trademark professionals who can’t shed your “Brand Police” identity no matter where you are or what you’re doing?  Take this quiz to assess whether you are truly Brand Obsessed:

1. When you’re on vacation, do you make detours to out-of-the-way shops to find out if they carry the brands you work with?
2. Do you get especially excited when you see your brands outside your home country?
3. Have you talked about trademark matters so much that family members now ask you why a store’s sign shows a “TM” notice rather than an encircled-R notice?
4. Do family members also ask you “Why was Company X able to register that mark?  Isn’t that merely descriptive?”
5. When you like someone’s clothing, do you ask “Who makes that?” and not “Where did you buy that?”
6. Do you often try to identify the source of others’ handbags, shoes and wallets by looking at their shape, material and hardware, just because you think it’s fun?
7. Do you clip “look for” or anti-genericide advertising from publications you read at home, so you can show them to the marketing team?
8. Do you use the Trademark Office’s web site to look up brands you encountered on your personal shopping trips?
9. Does your phone contain more photos of Trademark Office specimens than photos of loved ones?
10. Does your phone contain more photos of potential infringement than photos of your dog or cat?

If you said “Yes” to 5 or more of the above, it’s confirmed… you are indeed Brand Obsessed.   Welcome to the ranks!

The material contained in this communication is informational, general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. The material contained in this communication should not be relied upon or used without consulting a lawyer to consider your specific circumstances. This communication was published on the date specified and may not include any changes in the topics, laws, rules or regulations covered. Receipt of this communication does not establish an attorney-client relationship. In some jurisdictions, this communication may be considered attorney advertising.

About the Author: Jennifer Dean

Jennifer Dean is a leading trademark lawyer who helps companies establish, protect and promote their brands in the United States and globally. Clients entrust her with intellectual property portfolios comprising thousands of trademark applications and registrations, relying on Jennifer’s extensive experience navigating the intricacies of international brand management. Her knowledge of clients’ industries and careful monitoring of the marketplace enables her to act swiftly to avert competitors’ efforts to launch confusingly similar brands.