Establishing a distinct brand identity is paramount for your food or supplement business success. Among the myriad platforms available to sellers, Amazon stands out as a juggernaut, offering unparalleled reach to millions of customers worldwide. To safeguard your brand and unlock exclusive benefits on this platform, enrolling in Amazon Brand Registry is a wise move. Central to this process is obtaining a trademark—a vital step that solidifies your brand's legal standing and authenticity.

Understanding Amazon Brand Registry

Amazon Brand Registry is a program designed to help brand owners protect their intellectual property and create an enhanced shopping experience for customers. By enrolling in the registry, sellers gain access to powerful tools and features, including advanced brand protection measures, increased control over product listings, and enhanced marketing opportunities.

The Importance of Trademark Registration

At the heart of Amazon Brand Registry lies trademark registr...

In the world of e-commerce, protecting your brand is paramount. With the rise of platforms like Amazon, establishing a strong brand identity is not only crucial for success, but also for safeguarding against counterfeiters and unauthorized sellers. Amidst the array of services available to assist in trademark registration, one option that has gained attention is Amazon's IP Accelerator program. While touted as a convenient solution, there are compelling reasons why entrusting your trademark application solely to IP Accelerator firms might not be the wisest choice.

What is IP Accelerator?

Amazon's IP Accelerator is a program designed to connect sellers with a curated network of law firms that specialize in intellectual property (IP) law that sellers can hire to file an application for a trademark on their behalf.   

The Pitfalls of Relying Solely on IP Accelerator

While IP Accelerator offers certain conveniences, there are several drawbacks to consider before using this service:

...

In order to be approved for Amazon Brand Registry, sellers must have either a fully-registered or pending trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The trademark for your brand must be in the form of a text-based mark (word mark) or an image-based mark with words, letters or numbers (design mark). 

Amazon pushes the use of its IP Accelerator program which includes select law firms approved as vendors. However, what Amazon doesn't make clear is that sellers do not need to use the IP Accelerator firms to file for a trademark. In fact, it is a lot cheaper not to.

Many of these firms charge hidden fees that significantly drive up the price after you start working with them. Moreover, IP Accelerator law firms do not get access to expedited trademark filings, there is no such thing. The USPTO processes trademark applications in order which they were received. Additionally, IP Accelerator will not get you early access to Amazon Brand Registry. While this once might have b...

The trademark process is incredibly important for businesses. Trademarks help establish brand recognition and protect your business from competitors. They also prevent other companies from profiting off of the goodwill it took you years to develop. And if a competing business sells a faulty product under the guise of your desired mark, the backlash could impact your brand’s reputation.

Two trademark actions, revivals and renewals, can be easily confused with each other. However, they offer solutions to different issues. Trademark revivals are important for resolving missed deadlines during the trademark registration process. In other words, they’re meant for trademarks that are not yet officially registered.

On the other hand, trademark renewals are for registered trademarks. Every registered trademark must be renewed at certain intervals. Once a business does so, the trademark won’t need to be renewed again until the next renewal deadline.

Trademark revivals can resolve missed dea...

Dietary supplements imported into the United States are governed by a complex body of laws and regulations. These laws and regulations govern manufacturing practices, product and ingredient safety, labeling, marketing claims, importing procedures, among other things.

Failure to comply can result in regulatory action by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including product detentions, warning letters, refusals of entry at U.S. ports, and fines. This is why it is imperative to be familiar with these laws and regulations before importing dietary supplements to the U.S.,.

FDA Facility Registration

All dietary supplement products offered for import must be manufactured in a facility register with the FDA. If the facility is located outside of the United States, you will need to appoint a U.S. Agent physically located in the U.S. to handle communications with the FDA. Upon registration, you will receive an FDA facility registration number. This number is important for confirming ...

Registering a trademark is a crucial step in protecting your business. A trademark sets your products apart from the competition by establishing a brand that consumers can easily recognize. Trademarks can be names, symbols, words, or even slogans that distinguish a product. They are unique to your brand and protect your products from other businesses benefitting from your customers’ goodwill.

Before importing and distributing food, beverage, or dietary supplement to the United States, it’s crucial to have a trademark plan ready to implement. Foreign registered trademarks are not recognized under U.S. law and therefore not enforceable. This can cause problems for importers who want to establish their brand in the American market because they are unable to prevent competitors from using their foreign trademark. But do not worry, not all is lost. You can file an application to register your trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Unfamiliar with the trademark process? Here ...