Some new entrepreneurs assume that staying quiet about their ideas is enough protection for now. They forget that the people they are competing with for customers are already paying attention. If your product or approach is easy to spot, it’s just as easy to copy. And sometimes it’s not even your competitors you have to worry about. It could be someone you worked with who later joins a rival team or starts their own thing based on what you invented. If you haven’t protected your work, there’s nothing stopping them from using it.
Trademarks and patents give you the freedom to talk about your invention openly. With a trademark, you’ve made it clear that your brand name, logo, or tagline belongs to you. With a patent, you’ve made it clear that your method, formula, or design isn’t up for grabs. Protecting your work gives you a legal foundation to stand on, so you’re not starting from scratch if someone else tries to claim what you built.
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