Should I sign up for the “Elective Electronic Trademark Monitoring” service to learn of new conflicting trademarks?
A number of companies offer “watching” services that alert you to trademark applications and domain names similar to your trademarks. You also can employ old-fashioned news clipping services, and their modern equivalents, to watch for names and marks that might infringe your rights. But consider whether you really want to know; in some cases, becoming aware of an infringing name or mark may require you to commence legal action sooner, rather than later, to avoid waiving your right to object. Should you decide to hire a watching service, it is wise to do some comparison shopping. The better known vendors in the field include Thomson CompuMark and CT Corsearch. Your trademark counsel can assist you in selecting the service best suited to your needs and budget.
