In today’s age of digital commerce, a company’s brand is becoming more and more of a valuable asset that needs protection.
The best way to ensure that other companies are not capitalizing on your company’s goodwill is to register your trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and defend your brand vigilantly.
A recent case illustrates the importance of this protection:
http://www.sevendaysvt.com/BiteClub/archives/2015/12/15/farmers-market-kitchen-litigious-whiskey-grey
Local Vermont distillery, Smugglers Notch Distillery, from Jeffersonville, Vermont (right near Smuggler’s Notch), was sued by the Campari Group for using the name “Smuggler’s Notch” in their brand.
Campari argued that the term “Smuggler’s Notch” would cause confusion with its brand of Old Smuggler whiskey.
After two years of litigation, the parties settled—but not before Smugglers Notch Distillery had spent considerable time and money defending its brand.
