Sites for Photographers

As promised in this post, I'm going to delve a bit deeper into handy dandy sites for different types of visual artists.

This week, the focus is on photographers

Associations:

Professional Photographers of America
Wedding Photojournalist Association
The Master Photographers Association
North American Nature Photography Association
National Press Photographers Association

PhotoLinks, "free directory & portal service"

Articles:

Start Your Own Photography Business from Home by Roy Barker
Why Not Start Your Own Photography Business? by Roy Barker
Photography – Breaking into the Business by Michael Russell

Don't forget about the month long promotion we're running for our blog readers!

Logos, USPTO Style

This post inspired me to talk a bit about how the USPTO classifies logos.

The USPTO designates six digit coded numbers for each & every logo that's submitted. And, boy, do they get specific. Let's take a look at some examples:

020315: Women wearing scarves on their heads



This logo is registered to Duncan Sutherland who is using this logo in connection with skin care services & products.

Most logos are going to have more than one coding and this mark is no different: 020322, busts of women in profile; 020324, women depicted in caricature form; and, 261101, rectangles.

040525: Other mythological or legendary animals




This interesting logo is owned by Stone Brewing Co. for clothing. Of course, this logo is also coded for beer steins, 110302.

160108: Telephones



Sam Chiodo owns this logo for concierge services & is also coded with 021107: arms, fingers, hands, etc.; 090312: gloves; 110325: serving trays

By looking at just 3 examples, you can see how detailed the process is when filing for a trademark on your logo.

When having a logo search done, it's absolutely a priority that the correct design codes are searched.

If you've got a logo & are wondering what codes apply to you, let me know, shannon@tmexpress.com

Don't forget about the month long promotion we're running for our blog readers!

Sites for Visual Artists

It's Copyright Wednesdays again! Here are some handy links for visual artists.

Are you a Visual Artist?

Site dedicated to modern and contemporary artists and arts

If you're an emerging artist, check this site out.

Need a job? Explore careers here.

I'll do posts in the coming weeks for the various specialties.

Just Goes to Show You...

how important comprehensive trademark research AND analysis is when naming your business.

Don't forget about the month long promotion we're running for our blog readers!

Logos Hoping to be Trademarked

Using this post as inspiration, I thought I'd take a look at some newly filed logos.



That little guy is Serial Number 77202055 & was filed for "non-downloadable ringtones, pre-recorded music, video and graphics presented to mobile communications devices via a global computer network and wireless networks."

Hmm, um, this next one may be a little NSFW depending on where you work. Considering it's owned by The Filthy Food Company, well, let's just say you can tell where they're going with this logo.


This take on da Vinci's Vitruvian Man was assigned Serial Number 77199434 for "Shirts; Jeans; T-shirts; Sweaters; Jackets; Pants; Hats; Caps; Undergarments; Belts; Socks; Coats"

Don't forget about the month long promotion we're running for our blog readers!

Happy Anniversary TradeMark Express Blog!

On June 2, 2007 we celebrated our blog's 1 year anniversary!

Blog, we've had a roller coaster of a ride but have persevered through it all. Here's to many more years of talking trademarks. *clinks internet glasses*

One of the reasons I missed the actual anniversary date is that we've been busy bees over at TradeMark Express. While our blog's a mere baby, TradeMark Express has been getting trademarks for our clients since 1992.

Keeping up during our busy times can be daunting but this blog is an important facet of what we offer to clients. The actual work is paramount, of course, but making sure clients feel as well informed as possible is so important. It's one thing to help clients get their trademarks; it's a completely better thing to help our clients get their trademarks AND to share our knowledge of what's what.

To commemorate our blog's anniversary, I'd like to offer our readers a $100 discount on our trademark package. Let's celebrate all month long, shall we? Just make sure you mention the blog when ordering. Offer good until Sunday, June 30, 2007.

Happy One Year!
* re-posting discount offer every day during the month of June

Sites for Writers

Last week, I listed some handy dandy sites for musicians; let's get literal this week.

What do writers do? Writer's Write.

Other great resources:

"Writers on the Net has been offering online writing classes since 1995 -- the first private writing school on the Internet"

"Searchable directory of published writers and literary agents"

"Writing.Com is the online community for creative writing, fiction writing, story writing, poetry writing, writing contests, writing portfolios, writing help"

Writer's Associations:

Directory of Writers Associations
Directory of Associations & Organizations
Professional Associations for Writers

Articles for Writers:

Creative Writer's Block - 5 Reasons Why Writer's Block is Not a Terminal Condition by Dan Goodwin

71 Ways for a Writer to Make Money by Julia Tang

Preparing the Writer's Portfolio by Theresa Wilson

When Does an Amateur Writer Become a Real or Professional Writer? by Lance Winslow

Copyright Resources for Writers:

Register Your Literary Work
NOLO's Copyright Resource Center

Happy Anniversary TradeMark Express Blog!

On June 2, 2007 we celebrated our blog's 1 year anniversary!

Blog, we've had a roller coaster of a ride but have persevered through it all. Here's to many more years of talking trademarks. *clinks internet glasses*

One of the reasons I missed the actual anniversary date is that we've been busy bees over at TradeMark Express. While our blog's a mere baby, TradeMark Express has been getting trademarks for our clients since 1992.

Keeping up during our busy times can be daunting but this blog is an important facet of what we offer to clients. The actual work is paramount, of course, but making sure clients feel as well informed as possible is so important. It's one thing to help clients get their trademarks; it's a completely better thing to help our clients get their trademarks AND to share our knowledge of what's what.

To commemorate our blog's anniversary, I'd like to offer our readers a $100 discount on our trademark package. Let's celebrate all month long, shall we? Just make sure you mention the blog when ordering. Offer good until Sunday, June 30, 2007.

Happy One Year!

Tee Hee

Talking to new business owners every day really shows me how alive the creative spirit (as well as funny bones) is in the business world. Checking out new trademark listings accomplishes this too.

Here's just a smidgen of the 1100+ that were filed on June 1st of this year:

Serial Number 77196095, Listen to Your Vegetables & Eat Your Parents - for infant clothing

Check out the logo too. Those are some warped vegetables.

Serial Number 76677705, Hangovers Sports Bar & Grill - for clothing

Shhh, not so loud.

Serial Number 77195398, You Deserve Cupcakes - for baked goods

I couldn't agree more. Everyone deserves cupcakes.

Extra! Extra! Read All About It

Here's what's going on in the intellectual property world:

Trademarks

Vista Trademark Holder Sues Microsoft
USPTO Celebrates a Decade of Telework
Want an Idea of how Many Trademarks are filed in ONE DAY?
Here's the top 40 trademark filings of 158 that were filed on May 30th of this year

Patents

Administration Seeks Overhaul of Patent System
Microsoft & Xandros in New Patent Spat
Winners of 2007 Modern Marvels Invent Now® Challenge on Exhibit at the USPTO

Copyrights

Copyright Class Action Suit against YouTube/Google Gains Significant Support...
Jail Time Isn't Paris Hilton's Only Problem These Days
Copyright Office looking for Beta Testers - save $10 if accepted

Sites for Musicians

Since Wednesdays are Copyright days, I thought I'd spend some time compiling handy-dandy sites for artists of all types. Let's start with musicians…

What kind of musician are you?

"Musicians.Net offers free musicians classifieds, LIVE Internet radio, promotional tools and resources for independent artists and local musicians"

"Searchable database of musicians for hire. Includes bands, contract musicians, music schools and teachers. Free registration for musicians."

Musician Associations:

Recording Musicians Association
American Federation of Musicians
Berklee College of Music LARGE listing of associations

Articles for Musicians:

What Makes a Great Musician? by Ermias Kebede
How to Improve Your Employment Prospects as a Musician by Mantius Cazaubon Music Career Success: 5 Ways to Thrive as a Musician Today by Peter Spellman