Business

Why trademarks are crucial for the creative entrepreneur

ROLLINGOUT.COM — A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination of words, phrases, symbols or designs that identify and distinguish (“mark”) the source of goods or services of one party from those of others.

Published

7 years ago

April 15, 2019

Lerae Funderburg

By Lerae Funderburg

Have you ever wondered if you need to have a federally registered trademark to protect your brand? If you are a business owner or a brand, more than likely you do.

A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination of words, phrases, symbols or designs that identify and distinguish (“mark”) the source of goods or services of one party from those of others. As a brand, you may want to trademark your name or the design or symbol associated with your name. As a business owner, you may want to trademark your business name, corresponding logo or the slogan associated with your product or service.

And the sooner you trademark, the better. It would hurt to spend years creating and developing your brand under the same name, just to have someone else beat you to the registration punch. It’s not easy to rebrand yourself once you’ve established a fan base of people who are used to knowing you by a certain name. And you certainly don’t want to be confused with another brand. Once you’ve worked to create in the eyes of the public a correlation between your product or service and a certain mark, it would be a shame to have to rebrand your business and rebuild that same trust and confidence you’d previously built with your consumers.

While federal trademark registration is not required, it does offer notable benefits, namely:

It provides public notice of claims of ownership of the mark in association with your goods or services;
It creates certain presumptions of ownership;
It validates the mark and grants the exclusive right to use the mark in connection with the associated goods or services;
Registrants can sue in federal court for infringement for marks that are confusingly similar; and,
Registrants may prevent importation of goods that bear an infringing mark.

Trademarks are a vital component in protecting your brand and business, That’s why we are hosting a workshop on May 11, 2019, to teach creative entrepreneurs how to register their own trademarks with the assistance of a trademark attorney.

In this workshop, you will learn:

the importance of trademarks and the difference between common law trademarks and federally protected trademarks;
how to register your specific trademark (so come equipped with your logo, slogan, or brand name and the goods and services you will associate with your mark); and,
how to maintain your trademark rights moving forward.
how celebrities like Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian have used trademarks to protect their children’s names.

Limited seats are available. Sign up today!

This article originally appeared in Rollingout.com.

Lerae Funderburg

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The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 1 – 7, 2026

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Advice

Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

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3 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

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Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC