Everything Startups Should Know about Trademarks & Social Media

We can say without a doubt that social media play a huge role in the marketing and sales plans of startups and SMEs. An increasing number of startups and small businesses in the UAE are turning to social media platforms to connect with their audiences who can be potential customers. However, there are certain things you must ensure before jumping into social media with both feet. Conducting trademark registration in the UAE, performing trademark searches and trademark watch are some of them.

You can also consult with trademark agents in the UAE who can advise you on how to protect your registered marks on social media. Here are a few tips on how startups and SMEs should handle trademark issues in the world of social media:

Work with a professional to perform a trademark search 

It’s important for all startups and small businesses to invest sufficient time and money into protecting their name via trademark registration in the UAE. Registering a trademark in the UAE for your brand name make sure that you have the exclusive rights to use the name within your industry. This will help prove your ownership of the brand name even if someone uses a similar name.

However, you need to ensure that the trademark you selected is eligible for registration. Make sure you hire trademark agents in the UAE to perform a comprehensive trademark search. A professional trademark search will eliminate the risk of objection or rejection. It will also allow you to move forward with your business and branding with more confidence.

Make social media registration a priority

Once you have registered your trademark in the UAE, make sure to register your brand name with all the top social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. By reserving the brand name, you can easily market or connect with customers via a particular social media channel. It will help you increase brand visibility and gain the loyalty of customers.

Monitor social media for evidence of infringement

You need to stay alert to see if any business is intentionally or unintentionally infringing on your trademarked brand name on social media or any other channel. This applies not only to the exact brand name but also to names that are confusingly similar to yours. For example, if you have a Facebook page named STARSTRUCK Breads, which is also your trademarked brand name, you can prevent someone else from using the Facebook page STARSTRUCK Breads or even ZATARSTRUCK Breads.

The other Facebook page owner is clearly infringing on your trademark rights by using an identical or confusingly similar name. You can send them a letter to stop using your brand name and get the page removed. However, such actions should be taken only with professionals with sufficient legal experience. Trademark agents in the UAE can help you monitor trademark infringement by conducting a trademark watch on your behalf.

Take action if infringement occurs

Once you detect the infringement, you must notify the social media site through a trademark infringement form. All major social media platforms have online infringement forms that permit trademark owners to identify potential infringements and submit evidence of their trademark ownership in the form of their trademark registration number.

In most cases, just sending a notification to the social media site of the infringing profile and providing proof of trademark ownership is adequate for the site to shut down the infringing company’s page. However, if you do not get any satisfactory resolution, you should work with trademark agents in the UAE to determine the next course of action.

Hire the Best Trademark Agents in the UAE

Whether you are planning to slowly make a name in the world of social media or want to jump right in, you need to ensure that you are strong with your trademark fundamentals including trademark registration in the UAE. Hire the best trademark agents in the UAE such as Jitendra Intellectual Property (JIP) who can help you search for available names and file an application.

JIP can also provide robust trademark search services to prevent others from infringing on your registered mark. We also provide trademark litigation services in the UAE in case you want to escalate the matter to a court. . We also offer international trademark protection services through the Madrid Protocol. Avail of our brand registration services in the UAE to ensure your valued trademark remains protected wherever you have the business.