Bob Harris, principal of Attrition Busters, wrote me advising of phishing or spam messages he has been receiving and inquired as to what can be done to protect trademarks overseas. One of my partners, Evan Kent, is a recognized expert in the field, so I asked Evan if he would respond via this article. The following is his response:
Trademark ownership provides important commercial and legal benefits, including the exclusive right to use the registered trademark and the right to sell or license it to another for profit. Further, trademark ownership gives one legal standing to prevent others from using or attempting to register similar or identical trademarks. Trademarks are considered to be tangible assets of the owner and add to the value of the shares of a company. If you are an exporter, or thinking about exporting in the future, you should seriously consider securing protection for your trademarks at the earliest possible date not only in the U.S., but in those foreign markets which are or could be of interest.