If you have been following this blog, you know that one can establish trademark/servicemark rights just by using the mark in commerce. That being the case, why would anyone go through the time and expense of federal registration of the mark? Consider these rather good reasons:

•           A legal presumption of your ownership of the mark and your exclusive right to use the mark nationwide on or in connection with the goods/services listed in the registration (whereas a state registration only provides rights within the borders of that one state);

•           The ability to record the U.S. registration with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service to prevent importation of infringing foreign goods;

•           The right to use the federal registration symbol “®”;

•           The ability to   bring an action concerning the mark in federal court;  and

•           The use of the U.S. registration as a   basis to obtain registration in  foreign countries