Why you should trademark your name/brand (with Indiefoxx)

I want to talk today about the importance of trademarking your name or brand name. This is a hugely important topic, especially now in this age of social media.

As many of you may know, I am an established content creator, influencer and small business owner. I’ve been around for years, and created Indiefoxx in 2014. Indiefoxx is my brand and stage name. My real name is Sara, though only family calls me that. To the public and those who know me in my line of work, I am Indie or Indiefoxx.

After a few years of being a content creator, I started getting quite popular around the year 2016. You could find me all over the internet. Instagram, Lookbook, Pinterest, you name it. I have grown my fashion influencing career and brand organically. I have never bought likes or followers.

Recently, I trademarked my name Indiefoxx. Indiefoxx is my baby. I came up with the name, and it means something to me. It’s special. I have put a lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears into this name and brand. I have worked with major brands and have created a portfolio of work for myself that includes conceptualization, showcasing fashion ideas, creating eye-catching photography, marketing the Indiefoxx brand, modeling, Music Monday, “How To” tutorials, creating content, and even the creation of my own shop and clothing brand. The list goes on.

I am the type of person that puts everything into my work and is passionate about what I do. I have big plans for the future, and am always forward-thinking.

So, all this to say: why trademark your brand? The reason is simple. If you don’t, you risk another brand coming along and taking your name, and running your brand through the mud. All of your hard work can go right out door the door if you don’t protect your brand. All those years of hard work towards achieving a dream can get taken away, simply because now another brand is using your brand name. When this happens, you then have brand confusion. Companies and potential business partners may not want to work with you because there is confusion surrounding who you are and your brand. You can even lose your place in Google search results, and your reputation may suffer as a result of this confusion.

Now, how do you go about trademarking your brand name? First things first: you have to check and make sure no one else is using the name. I did this back in 2014 when I came up with the name Indiefoxx. I did a huge data search to make sure it wasn’t in use by anyone else and that it was unique to me.

After you’ve ensured no one else is using the name, you’ll want to find yourself a good trademark lawyer. If you hire a lawyer, they can do all the leg work for you and make sure everything for your trademark is filed correctly. It typically takes about a year to get your trademark approved. The process is long, but this is because the US Patent & Trademark office needs to make sure you’ve used the name in commerce, ect. Once your trademark is approved, there is a 30 day period in which someone can oppose your trademark. After the 30 days, your trademark gets published and it’s yours.

Protect your trademarked name. If a brand or someone is using your trademark without your consent, then make sure you take action to stop further use for the safety of your business and career. Always consult with a lawyer and take his advise.

Trademarking your name/brand is an important business move. It protects senior claim holders and protects all that you invested in over the years.

Indiefoxx

Sara Violassi