Reasons Why Trademarks Are Important For Your Health Business

Written by: Dr. Marisol Teijieiro, N.D. (inactive)
Reviewed By: Victoria Williams R.H.N. & Melanie Swackhammer, B.A.

So you’ve submitted your trademark application and are now playing the waiting game. Or are you?

Are you wondering how to navigate the registration process of your health business and if you can use your trademark before it’s registered?

Sure, you can use your trademark right away as I did before waiting to register my company “Queen of the Thrones®.”

But, it comes with the risk of big companies with deep pockets coming after you and the possibility of having to withdraw and redo all the work you’ve done so far.

Are you manufacturing products before you’ve registered your trademark?

Now, maybe your products are already in the manufacturing stage and you’re making money like I was. 

Now comes the question: Do you wait out the registration process of 2 years to start using your trademark?

Don’t put the cart before the horse!

Seriously, pull back those reins because jumping ahead could put you further behind and cost you even more time, money and headaches.

May I share my “lesson learned” to potentially help save you from heading up shit creek without a paddle?

While I was brainstorming ideas for the name to trademark for my company, Queen of the Thrones®, I was indecisive because it had to resonate with me and speak for what I represent.

I was meditating for quite some time and nothing was coming to me.

Then, one day, the name “Queen of Thrones” bloomed in my head. I loved it, but kept it to myself at first. So, it was confirmed shortly after when one of my patients called me a true “Queen of Thrones”. Amazing, right?

In that moment I got goosebumps and tingles up my spine, which helped confirm my decision in naming my business.

You see, it was in front of me the whole time, but I needed that confirmation in order to feel true peace about it.

So that was it! That was going to be the name that represented my business – Queen of Thrones!

Do I skip steps in the trademarking process to save time and money?

Now, I did my due diligence and searched for trademarks that had already been taken and lucky for me “Queen of Thrones” was mine for the taking! 

There was only one trademark closely named “Game of Thrones®” and I figured it’s a totally different name and a completely different industry (self-care versus entertainment), and assumed I was safe to move ahead.

I even got the “ok” from my lawyer that all would be well. And so, I put the cart before the horse and began manufacturing before the registration process was complete. Why?

Well, the trademark process can take a year or two to complete and you probably don’t want to wait 2 years just for your registered trademark because you need to start making trades!

So, after creating my website, packaging, labelling and producing my products, guess who came knocking at my door?

HBO. Because they found that “Queen of Thrones” infringed on their “Game of Thrones®” trademark. I was devastated!

I felt like I was in the House of the Dragon with fire breathing down my neck, as I had no money to go up against a goliath like HBO. Can you relate?

So, I had to succumb.

Lesson learned when it comes to waiting for trademarking

Thankfully, though, I was asked to simply add a THE to my business name to avoid infringement from HBO and that’s how my company name went from “Queen of Thrones” to what is now “Queen of the Thrones®”.

I was grateful that all I had to do was modify my trademark application. Lesson learned. 

But a good lesson. Now, I know that your trademark isn’t safe until it’s gone through the registration process, even if your choice seems to be a safe one.

Except in business, waiting to get it registered can impact your growth so instead of waiting, take action and adjust from what’s occurring around you. 

I created this checklist just for you – it’s a time saver and thought provoker and the best part? It helps deliver ease of peace of mind in the trademark application process.

Are you a practitioner, health coach or wellness influencer? If you’re interested in…

• • • Recommending our easy-to-use self-care tools to the people you serve.
    • Practically applying them in your health and wellness professional practice in clinic or online.
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