Any business owner who wants to preserve their brand identification must first register a trademark. To make sure the intended mark is not already registered or being used by another party, it is essential to perform a thorough search prior to registering a trademark.
A knockout search is a quick investigation done to see if a proposed trademark is likely to violate the rights of an already-existing mark. To find any existing trademarks that are comparable to the proposed mark, the relevant intellectual property office’s trademark database is searched.
The strength of the mark must be taken into account when doing a knockout search. Strong marks are recognizable and memorable, making it simpler to ward against potential copycats. A weak mark, on the other hand, is generic or descriptive and is therefore more challenging to defend.
Businesses must select the appropriate type of trademark when registering trademarks. Word marks, design marks, and composite marks are a few of the several forms of trademarks. A design mark is made up of a logo or other design element, while a word mark is made up of one or more words. A composite mark combines a word with a visual component.
On the other hand, Google is a word mark that has been authorized for use as a trademark. The term “Google” itself is the trademark, even if the company’s logo makes use of a unique font and color scheme.
A knockout search is an essential first step in trademark registration, to sum up. Businesses can use it to find any potential trademark disputes and select a powerful mark that is simpler to defend. Businesses should take their demands into account while selecting a trademark, whether it be a word mark, design mark, or composite mark.