John could you go into it a little "having a trademark" vs "having a trademark registration"
I've done this a bunch of times here on NP, but I'm going to ask you three questions just to warm up the brain cells before diving into trademarks.
Let's say you live in a city which has the following law:
"If you want the privilege of walking your dog in the park, then you must have a dog license. In order to obtain a dog license, you must pay a fee of $5 to the town clerk. Dog licenses will need to be renewed every year."
Okay, so, here's the first question:
1. I go to the town clerk, pay the $5, and get the license. Does that mean I have a dog? (yes/no)
Here's the second question:
2. I buy a dog, go to the town clerk, pay $5 and get the license. A year goes by, and the license expires. Does that mean I no longer have a dog? (yes/no)
Here's the third question:
3. I buy a dog, pay the $5, and get the license. Six months later my dog dies, but the license is still valid. Does that mean I still have a dog? (yes/no)
Now, there are some important differences among various countries as to "what does a trademark registration mean?" in terms of what, specifically, it signifies, what rights it confers, and so on. But I get really tired of writing up the difference between "having a dog" and "having a dog license" every couple of months or so here on Namepros, so maybe some helpful person will dig up the link to the last time I went through this. But the bottom line is that it is possible to have a dog, and no dog license; to have a dog license and no dog; or to have both a dog and a dog license.
But, especially in the US, whether or not you "have a trademark" and whether or not you "have a trademark registration" are two different questions.
If you can answer the three questions above correctly, then you are all warmed up and ready to understand the difference between "having a trademark" and "having a trademark registration".
