Securing Your Brand

In this episode of Securing Your Brand with SecureMark Legal , hosts Holly McFall and Melissa Jeda explore the patent side of intellectual property protection with guest Jeff Holman , a seasoned patent attorney and engineer. While the show typically centers on trademarks, this episode highlights how patents both utility and design, play a critical role in protecting inventions, product designs, an...

In this episode of Securing Your Brand , with SecureMark Legal , hosts Holly McFall and Melissa Jeda take a closer look into the world of franchising, entrepreneurship, and brand protection with Max Emma , a seasoned franchise executive and serial entrepreneur. With over two decades of experience, Max shares his remarkable story from immigrating to the U.S. with limited English to becoming the CEO...

In this episode of Securing Your Brand with SecureMark Legal , hosts Holly McFall and Melissa Jeda dive into the intricacies of designing creative brand names using letters, numbers, and symbols. They explore how the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) assesses these creative marks and what makes a brand confusingly similar to existing trademarks. The hosts highlight the importance o...

In today’s episode of Securing Your Brand, co-hosts Melissa Jeda and Holly McFall delve into the risks and legal nuances of using non-English or made-up words in your brand name. While a foreign word might feel creative or meaningful, it could also carry unintended translations, cultural misinterpretations, or worse, get your trademark denied or fined by the USPTO. This episode breaks down why tra...

In this episode of Securing Your Brand, co-hosts Melissa Jeda and Holly McFall explore a crucial yet often misunderstood aspect of brand protection: design marks. Unlike standard word marks, design marks cover stylized logos, colors, shapes, and other brand identifiers. This episode walks entrepreneurs and creatives through what counts as a design mark, when and how to register one with the USPTO,...

In this episode of Securing Your Brand , trademark attorney Melissa Jeda and copyright expert Holly McFall dive into the critical differences between trademarks and copyrights , and how entrepreneurs can secure their brands effectively. Whether you’re just starting your business or looking to expand, understanding these two concepts is vital for protecting your intellectual property. The episode i...

In this episode of Securing Your Brand , trademark attorneys Melissa Jeda and Holly McFall , partners of SecureMark Legal , discuss the world of trademark infringement, offering insights on how to avoid costly mistakes that can jeopardize your brand. They break down what a trademark infringement letter is, how to respond to it, and the steps business owners should take to protect their intellectua...

In this episode of Securing Your Brand , trademark attorneys Melissa Jeda and Holly McFall , partners of SecureMark Legal , break down the top five mistakes entrepreneurs make when trying to trademark their business names and logos and how to avoid them. Whether you’re running a weekend food truck, a boutique jewelry brand, or launching a product line, this episode is packed with real-life caution...

In this episode of Securing Your Brand , hosts Holly McFall and Melissa Jeda , partners of SecureMark Legal , unpack the entire trademark process from search to registration and everything in between. Whether you're an e-commerce entrepreneur, a small business owner, or just someone with a brilliant idea, this episode will help you avoid the most common pitfalls and protect your brand like a pro....

MERELY ORNAMENTAL TRADEMARKS: A GUIDE FOR MERCHANDISE BRANDS Understanding Merely Ornamental When the USPTO describes a trademark as "merely ornamental," it means the mark isn't functioning as a trademark but rather just as a design on a product. This typically occurs in merchandise businesses where a name is simply placed on t-shirts, merchandise, swim shirts, shorts, or shoes without functioning...

What is Trademark Monitoring? SecureMark Legal currently offers trademark monitoring to all trademark clients who file applications, whether locally in the United States through the USPTO or overseas. The service includes six months of complimentary monitoring, with the option to purchase annual monitoring thereafter. The monitoring system tracks USPTO trademark filings, watches for new applicatio...

In this enlightening episode, attorneys Holly McFall and Melissa Jeda welcome special guest Erin Gerner, a former lawyer turned business coach. Erin shares her powerful journey from big law to entrepreneurship, discussing how she founded Powerhouse Lawyers to help female attorneys break the burnout cycle. The conversation explores valuable insights on delegation, goal reassessment, and the importa...

Episode Summary In this episode of Securing Your Brand , hosts Holly McFall and Melissa Jeda from Secure Mark Legal welcome cybersecurity expert Mark Faron. Mark shares decades of experience in technology, from programming and network operations to consulting small businesses at Florida Gulf Coast University’s Small Business Development Center. The conversation focuses on practical cybersecurity m...

Episode Summary In this episode, host Kevin Rosenquist welcomes trademark attorneys Holly McFall and Melissa Jeda from Secure Mark Legal to discuss an essential topic: What should you ask before hiring a trademark lawyer? Whether you’re a startup, a growing business, or someone looking to protect your brand, this conversation will help you decide to choose the right legal partner. Timestamps [00:0...

Episode Summary: In this episode, Holly McFall and Melissa Jeda dive into the recent changes at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and their impact on trademark and patent filings. They discuss updates to fee structures, stricter filing requirements, and the challenges AI-generated specimens pose. The episode provides invaluable advice for navigating these updates, whether you'r...

In this episode, Kevin Rosenquist is joined by Melissa Jeda and Holly McFall as they discuss copyright infringement and the legal steps to take if someone infringes on your work. They cover key topics like documentation, takedown procedures, legal actions, and the role of mediation in resolving disputes. The conversation also touches on how AI-generated works fit into the copyright landscape and t...

Episode Summary: In this episode of Securing Your Brand , Janet Badalow, a business intermediary, provides valuable insights on the process of buying and selling businesses. She explains the key aspects that determine whether a business is sellable, including financial stability, asset transfer, and intellectual property considerations. The conversation also covers the emotional aspects of selling...

In this episode of Securing Your Brand, hosts Melissa Jada and Holly McFall discuss the implications of using catchy phrases and viral trends as trademarks. They emphasize the importance of understanding trademark laws when considering using popular expressions in business. The conversation highlights how common phrases can be trademarked if used in connection with goods or services. The episode a...

In this episode of "Securing Your Brand,"  Holly McFall and Melissa Jada from SecureMark Legal join Matt Skye to discuss the intricacies of copyright infringement. They explain that copyright infringement occurs when someone uses a copyrighted work without permission, emphasizing that intent or knowledge of ownership is irrelevant. The hosts highlight the importance of obtaining licenses for creat...

In this episode of "Securing Your Brand," hosts Holly McFall and Melissa Jada from SecureMark Legal discuss trademarks, copyrights, and intellectual property protection. They emphasize the importance of conducting thorough research before filing a trademark to ensure the uniqueness and availability of the business name. They recommend consulting an intellectual property attorney for a comprehensiv...

This episode of "Securing Your Brand" delves into trademarks, copyrights, and intellectual property with Holly McFaul and Melissa Jetta from SecureMark Legal. The discussion covers the main types of intellectual property law - patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade dress, and trade secrets - and their respective protections. Patents safeguard designs and inventions; trademarks protect business ide...