Perm do both fails---U.S. IP laws don’t provide protection in other countries

A trademark registered in the United States offers valuable protections for your business. Your registered trademark will provide the presumption of nationwide validity, which means you’ll be protected from potential infringement anywhere throughout the United States. Unfortunately, any trademark disputes that arise outside the U.S. will not be covered by these protections. In order to gain trademark protections outside the United States, you must register your trademark in other countries.

In today’s global economy, it’s not too farfetched to assume that a business of any size may one day reach other countries. This is especially true of online retailers, who may sell goods outside the United States, and even businesses manufacturing goods overseas. Whether you plan market your brand to customers in Europe or make your products in China, international trademarks can be a valuable asset to your business, and often necessary to your success outside the United States.

Relying only on your U.S. trademark for trademark protection could have costly consequences. Many businesses work to grow a successful brand within the United States, only to learn later that they have no ability to control their brand’s reputation overseas. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, counterfeiting is a multi-billion dollar industry, with much of the fraud taking place in China and Hong Kong. If you learn that your trademark is being used without your permission in these countries, you will have little recourse without a registered trademark. With a registered trademark, however, you have the legal right to fight infringement in these countries.