Spring Cleaning Your Trademarks: ®efresh for Your IP

By: Relani Belous, The Trademark Channel in collaboration with Huski.ai

Spring is in the air, and with it comes the inclination to declutter, refresh, and reorganize. While most people associate spring cleaning with their homes, businesses may want to also take the season as an opportunity to “tidy” up their intellectual property portfolios. 

Just like that forgotten box in your attic, unmonitored, expired or unplaced trademarks can create clutter—and even legal risk – and maybe even costs.

Why Refresh?

Trademarks are assets – intangible ones that is – that require regular maintenance and review. If you’ve let them collect dust, you might be sitting on abandoned marks, outdated registrations, and an opportunity for others to make your mark theirs. 

Spring cleaning your IP means auditing and inventorying what you own, working with the end users and business units to identifying gaps, and aptly, ensuring your brand(s) are fully protected.

The Trademarks You Should Be Dusting Off

Expired or Abandoned Marks – Are there trademarks you registered years ago but no longer use? If they’re not actively in “use” or in use for the same services or goods, they could be vulnerable to cancellation or third-party challenges.

Logos and Taglines That Need Updating – Has your brand evolved but your registered trademarks haven’t kept up? Make sure your registrations match your current branding to avoid unnecessary legal exposure and issues down the line.

International Registrations – If your business has expanded into new markets, have you secured trademarks in those regions? If not, it may be time to file and protect

Enforcement Strategy – Are you actively monitoring potential infringements and policing the marketplace? If not, someone else could be benefiting from your brand equity without your knowledge or again leave you open for issues you don’t want.

New Products and Services – Have you launched something new without considering trademark protection? Filing early prevents competitors from staking a claim on your brand’s innovations and namesakes.

Some Steps to Keep the IP Cobwebs Away

Conduct a Trademark Audit – Review your registrations, active marks, and branding to ensure everything is aligned with your business today.

Update Your Records – If ownership details, addresses, emails or legal structures have changed, update them with the appropriate trademark offices.

Strengthen Your IP Strategy – Work with legal professionals to ensure your marks are being enforced and new opportunities are explored.

Monitor for Infringement – Set up alerts or use AI-powered tools to keep an eye on potential brand copycats. Research what is out there to make sure you aren’t being duped or using a product not vetted

A Clean Slate for the Future

Spring cleaning is all about making space for growth and organizing what you have. By revitalizing and sustaining your trademark portfolio, you can work to ensure your brand is protected and positioned for future success and expansion.

For businesses looking to make this process easier, using an AI-powered tool can help streamline trademark monitoring, registration, and enforcement. Just like an organized home gives you peace of mind, a well-maintained IP strategy keeps your brand secure, organized and aligned with business goals. 

So, as you (try to) tackle your spring cleaning this year, don’t forget your trademarks. A little proactive effort now can prevent a big mess down the road.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is solely for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or form an attorney-client relationship between you and Belous Law Corporation in any manner. The content of this article is considered Attorney Advertising, as legally applicable.