In this episode of Securing Your Brand, co-hosts Melissa Jeda and Holly McFall explore a crucial yet often misunderstood aspect of brand protection: design marks. Unlike standard word marks, design marks cover stylized logos, colors, shapes, and other brand identifiers. This episode walks entrepreneurs and creatives through what counts as a design mark, when and how to register one with the USPTO, and common pitfalls to avoid when working with third-party designers or apps.

Melissa Jeda and Holly McFall are the founders of SecureMark Legal, a law firm that specializes in brand protection for modern entrepreneurs. Together, they demystify trademark strategy, enforcement, and growth in accessible, practical ways on their podcast, Securing Your Brand.

• The difference between word marks and design marks (logos, colors, trade dress).
• Strategic tips on when and how to file a design mark with the USPTO.
• Why filing in black and white can offer more flexibility than color.
• Risks of using Canva, Adobe, or freelancers to create logos without ownership agreements.
• Why evolving logos require updated registrations to maintain protection.

• [00:00] -Trailer
• [01:36] - Design Marks vs. Word Marks: Key Differences
• [03:59] - Example: “Duck in a Bowtie” Branding Scenario
• [08:55] - Timing Strategy: Word Mark First, Logo Later
• [10:30] - Black & White vs. Color Trademark Filings
• [13:36] - Stylized Fonts as Design Marks
• [14:18] - Why Black and White Offers Maximum Flexibility
• [16:31] - Using Canva, Adobe, and Freelancers, Who Really Owns Your Logo?
• [18:20] - Closing Thoughts + Next Episode Tease on AI and Copyright

Connect with Holly McFall

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollymcfall/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatorlaw19/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holly.mcfall

Connect with Melissa Jeda

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-jeda-29108813b/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mhjeda/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alizajeda

Connect with SecureMark Legal

• Website: https://securemarklegal.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/securemark-legal/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/securemark_legal
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/securemarklegal/

Subscribe to Securing Your Brand for expert guidance on building and protecting your business brand.

Let us know your thoughts or questions in the comments!

#TrademarkTips #BrandProtection #SecureYourBrand #TrademarkProcess #BusinessLaw  #LegalAdvice #TrademarkvsCopyright

In this episode of Securing Your Brand, trademark attorney Melissa Jeda and copyright expert Holly McFall dive into the critical differences between trademarks and copyrights, and how entrepreneurs can secure their brands effectively. Whether you’re just starting your business or looking to expand, understanding these two concepts is vital for protecting your intellectual property. The episode is packed with real-life examples and actionable insights to help you navigate the complexities of brand protection.

Melissa and Holly explain the essential steps for securing your brand, from filing the right applications to avoiding common mistakes that could jeopardize your brand’s future. If you’re confused about trademarks, copyrights, or both, this episode is your go-to guide for protecting your creative work and business.

Expect to Learn

• The fundamental differences between trademarks and copyrights
• Why securing your trademark early can prevent costly rebranding
• The importance of knowing when to copyright your work and how it impacts your business
• How trademarks protect your brand and ensure your identity remains yours
• Practical steps to ensure your intellectual property is properly secured
• Common mistakes to avoid when filing for trademarks or copyrights

Episode Breakdown with Timestamps

• [00:00] - Trailer
• [01:35] - Introduction to Trademarks vs Copyrights
• [02:08] - What is a Trademark and Why It Matters
• [03:07] - What is Copyright and How It Protects Your Work
• [09:15] - How Trademarks Prevent Brand Infringement
• [11:00] - Timing for Filing Copyright Registration
• [14:42] - Final Thoughts on Trademark and Copyright Protection
• [15:32] - How to Connect with Melissa & Holly

Connect with Holly McFall

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollymcfall/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatorlaw19/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holly.mcfall

Connect with Melissa Jeda

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-jeda-29108813b/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mhjeda/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alizajeda

Connect with SecureMark Legal

• Website: https://securemarklegal.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/securemark-legal/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/securemark_legal
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/securemarklegal/

Subscribe to Securing Your Brand for expert guidance on building and protecting your business brand.

Let us know your thoughts or questions in the comments!

#TrademarkTips #BrandProtection #SecureYourBrand #TrademarkProcess #BusinessLaw  #LegalAdvice #TrademarkvsCopyright

In this episode of Securing Your Brand, trademark attorneys Melissa Jeda and Holly McFall, partners of SecureMark Legal, discuss the world of trademark infringement, offering insights on how to avoid costly mistakes that can jeopardize your brand. They break down what a trademark infringement letter is, how to respond to it, and the steps business owners should take to protect their intellectual property.

Melissa Jeda and Holly McFall are the co-founders of SecureMark Legal, with over 30 years of combined experience helping businesses protect their brands. With their legal expertise, they provide actionable advice on trademark issues, ensuring entrepreneurs and companies are prepared to handle trademark disputes effectively.

What You’ll Learn:

• What a trademark infringement letter is and why it should never be ignored
• How to respond to a trademark infringement letter without panicking
• Step-by-step actions to take if you receive a trademark infringement notice
• The real-world consequences of failing to protect your brand, including the story of a food truck owner
• The importance of conducting thorough research when responding to trademark claims

In This Episode:

[00:00] - Teaser

[00:54] - Introduction of Melissa Jeda and Holly McFall, Co-founders of SecureMark Legal

[04:31] - Steps to take upon receiving a trademark infringement letter

[05:48] - Importance of researching trademark infringement letters

[07:33] - Checking the date of first use for trademark claims

[09:20] - Comparing services to determine if confusion could occur

[11:18] - Verifying what the infringement letter is asking

[13:46] - Costs and time involved in rebranding due to infringement

[18:44] - Food truck owner learning about trademark infringement through a Google review

Connect with Holly McFall:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollymcfall/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatorlaw19/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holly.mcfall 

Connect with Melissa Jeda:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-jeda-29108813b/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mhjeda/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alizajeda 

Connect with SecureMark Legal

Website: https://securemarklegal.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/securemark-legal/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/securemark_legal 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/securemarklegal/ 

Subscribe to Securing Your Brand for expert guidance on building and protecting your business brand.

Let us know your thoughts or questions in the comments!

#TrademarkProtection #IntellectualProperty #BusinessBranding #LegalAdvice #TrademarkInfringement #SmallBusinessTips #Rebranding #SecureYourBrand #IPLaw

In this episode of Securing Your Brand, trademark attorneys Melissa Jeda and Holly McFall, partners of SecureMark Legal, break down the top five mistakes entrepreneurs make when trying to trademark their business names and logos and how to avoid them. Whether you’re running a weekend food truck, a boutique jewelry brand, or launching a product line, this episode is packed with real-life cautionary tales and actionable advice that could save your business from costly rebranding, lawsuits, and missed opportunities.

Melissa and Holly explain why waiting too long, filing in the wrong class, and listing the wrong owner on your application can put your entire brand at risk. They also share how to correctly handle descriptions and conduct comprehensive searches to avoid confusingly similar trademarks. If you’ve ever thought your business was too small to matter or assumed a state registration was enough, this episode is your wake-up call.

Expect to Learn:

• Why “waiting until you grow” could kill your brand
• The risks of confusing state vs. federal trademark registration
• How to correctly identify the right class (and why it matters)
• The dangers of being too generic or too specific in descriptions
• What intent-to-use applications are and why they matter
• Why it’s critical to list the right owner from day one
• How improper trademark ownership affects funding and business sales

In Today’s Episode:

[00:00] - Episode Recap

[01:13] - Introduction to the top 5 trademark mistakes

[02:11] - Mistake #1: Waiting too long to file your trademark

[06:41] - Mistake #2: Filing in the wrong class of goods/services

[12:32] - Mistake #3: Being too generic or too specific in your description

[15:32] - Mistake #4: A poor search and missing intent-to-use applications

[18:00] - Mistake #5: Listing the wrong owner on your application

[22:48] - Final thoughts on risk, value, and protecting your brand from day one

[23:19] - How to connect with Holly & Melissa

Connect with Holly McFall:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollymcfall/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatorlaw19/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holly.mcfall 

Connect with Melissa Jeda:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-jeda-29108813b/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mhjeda/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alizajeda 

Connect with SecureMark Legal

Website: https://securemarklegal.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/securemark-legal/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/securemark_legal 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/securemarklegal/ 

Subscribe to Securing Your Brand for expert guidance on building and protecting your business brand.

Let us know your thoughts or questions in the comments!

#TrademarkTips #BrandProtection #SecureYourBrand #TrademarkProcess #BusinessLaw  #LegalAdvice

In this episode of Securing Your Brand, hosts Holly McFall and Melissa Jeda, partners of SecureMark Legal, unpack the entire trademark process from search to registration and everything in between. Whether you're an e-commerce entrepreneur, a small business owner, or just someone with a brilliant idea, this episode will help you avoid the most common pitfalls and protect your brand like a pro.The detailed analysis into why Google isn’t enough, how to choose the right class, why descriptions matter, and what to do if your application hits roadblocks.

Holly A. McFall brings her expertise in trademark law and brand protection, guiding entrepreneurs through the legal landscape with clarity and practical advice. Melissa H. Jeda complements with her extensive experience helping businesses navigate trademark searches, applications, and maintaining their brand’s strength over time.Together, they make a perfect team to help you understand the ins and outs of trademarks and safeguard your brand’s future.

• Why a Google search is NOT a comprehensive trademark check
• How to properly classify your goods and services (and why it matters)
• The truth about office actions and what to do when you receive one
• What “disclaimers” mean in trademark law
• How to handle opposition during the publication phase
• What post-registration maintenance looks like and why it’s critical
• Real examples of search mistakes and how to avoid them
• How to police your trademark and protect your reputation

In Today’s Episode:

[00:00] - Welcome and importance of trademark for entrepreneurs

[01:20] - Introducing your hosts and the core focus of the episode

[06:04] - Phonetic similarity and confusion: S vs. Z and more

[10:18] - Getting your product/service description right

[17:55] - Creative names vs. descriptive names in trademarks

[24:03] - How to police your trademark proactively

[26:36] - Final thoughts and how to connect with Holly & Melissa

Connect with Holly McFall:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollymcfall/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gatorlaw19/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holly.mcfall 

Connect with Melissa Jeda:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-jeda-29108813b/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mhjeda/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alizajeda 

Connect with SecureMark Legal

Website: https://securemarklegal.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/securemark-legal/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/securemark_legal 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/securemarklegal/ 

Subscribe to Securing Your Brand for expert guidance on building and protecting your business brand.

Let us know your thoughts or questions in the comments!

#TrademarkTips #BrandProtection #SecureYourBrand #TrademarkProcess #BusinessLaw  #LegalAdvice 

MERELY ORNAMENTAL TRADEMARKS: A GUIDE FOR MERCHANDISE BRANDS

Understanding Merely Ornamental

When the USPTO describes a trademark as "merely ornamental," it means the mark isn't functioning as a trademark but rather just as a design on a product. This typically occurs in merchandise businesses where a name is simply placed on t-shirts, merchandise, swim shirts, shorts, or shoes without functioning as a brand. While this can be overcome when you're actually in the merchandise sales business, it becomes more challenging when it's just a slogan or brand not primarily engaged in merchandise sales.

Overcoming Merely Ornamental Status

To overcome a merely ornamental designation, businesses must provide better specimens showing how the product is being sold, ensuring proper tag placement, and demonstrating that it's not just a word or slogan but an actual brand representing the company. For existing brands with acquired distinctiveness, they can file new applications for merchandise sales as an ancillary trademark registration, provided they're actually selling the goods rather than just giving them away as promotional material.

Class 25 and Proper Branding

Class 25 specifically relates to clothing items. Proper branding requires placing the mark in specific locations, typically on tags or discretely on the garment, rather than prominently across the front. For example, Hanes places its brand on the tag to indicate it manufactured the shirt, regardless of what design appears on the front.

Copyright vs. Trademark Protection

It's important to understand that copyright and trademark protection are two distinct areas of IP protection. Trademarks protect items for sale, services, and brand recognition, while copyrights protect tangible creative works. Copyright protection begins the moment a work is created in tangible form, while trademarks require registration for maximum legal protection and recognize a brand's goods or services.

Legal Advice for Merchandise Brands

For businesses serious about turning their merchandise into a real brand, it's crucial to first examine and protect the core business before branching into merchandise. Ensure the base intellectual property is secured in the primary business sphere before expanding into merchandise protection, unless the primary business is merchandise sales.

What is Trademark Monitoring?

SecureMark Legal currently offers trademark monitoring to all trademark clients who file applications, whether locally in the United States through the USPTO or overseas. The service includes six months of complimentary monitoring, with the option to purchase annual monitoring thereafter. The monitoring system tracks USPTO trademark filings, watches for new applications, and alerts clients to office actions that might affect their marks as well as any other new filings SecureMark identifies as potentially infringing on its clients’ trademarks. Clients receive monthly email updates, with immediate notifications for urgent matters.

Expanded Monitoring Services

SecureMark Legal is now expanding its monitoring service beyond its existing client base. The service is available to anyone with a trademark application or registration, as well as those wanting to monitor competitors' marks or track activity within specific classes of goods and services. This expansion came in response to increased demand from businesses seeking protection against infringement and brand confusion.

Benefits of Early Detection

Early detection through monitoring allows businesses to address potential conflicts before they escalate. When new applications are filed, trademark holders can take immediate action through cease and desist letters, often before the new brand has invested significantly in its marketing and development. This early intervention typically results in more amicable resolutions and less resistance to rebranding requests.

Risks of Non-Monitoring

Many businesses don't consider monitoring until they face problems, such as receiving cease and desist letters or lawsuits. Delayed response to infringement can lead to complicated legal situations, especially if similar marks have coexisted for extended periods. This can result in expensive litigation, costly rebranding processes, and potential settlement payments to infringing parties for their rebranding expenses.

SecureMark's Unique Approach

SecureMark Legal offers a flat-rate service that includes regular monitoring, consultation access, and one cease and desist letter annually. Its approach emphasizes open communication with clients and proactive brand protection strategies.

In this enlightening episode, attorneys Holly McFall and Melissa Jeda

welcome special guest Erin Gerner, a former lawyer turned business

coach. Erin shares her powerful journey from big law to

entrepreneurship, discussing how she founded Powerhouse Lawyers to help

female attorneys break the burnout cycle. The conversation explores

valuable insights on delegation, goal reassessment, and the importance

of community in entrepreneurship.

Key Timestamps:

00:01 - Show introduction

00:16 - Introduction of host and guest speakers

01:13 - Erin's journey from law practice to business coaching

05:43 - Mid-year goal evaluation and reassessment

09:43 - Discussion on delegation and letting go of control

13:58 - Money mindset and investment in business growth

15:24 - The importance of business coaching for entrepreneurs

About The Show:

Securing Your Brand is a podcast hosted by Kevin Rosenquist featuring

attorneys Holly McFall and Melissa Jeda from SecureMark Legal. The show

explores trademarks, copyrights, and intellectual property protection

strategies to help businesses secure their creative assets.

#SecuringYourBrand #BusinessLaw #Entrepreneurship #WomenInLaw

In this episode of Securing Your Brand, hosts Holly McFall and Melissa Jeda from Secure Mark Legal welcome cybersecurity expert Mark Faron. Mark shares decades of experience in technology, from programming and network operations to consulting small businesses at Florida Gulf Coast University’s Small Business Development Center. The conversation focuses on practical cybersecurity measures for small businesses, home offices, and remote workers. Topics include understanding basic cybersecurity principles, common vulnerabilities, key controls, and actionable tips for safeguarding digital assets.

Securing Your Brand is a podcast dedicated to helping creatives, entrepreneurs, and business owners protect their intellectual property through trademarks, copyrights, and other legal tools. Hosted by attorneys Holly McFall and Melissa Jeda, each episode provides practical advice, expert insights, and actionable tips to secure your brand and safeguard your business.

In this episode, host Kevin Rosenquist welcomes trademark attorneys Holly McFall and Melissa Jeda from Secure Mark Legal to discuss an essential topic: What should you ask before hiring a trademark lawyer? Whether you’re a startup, a growing business, or someone looking to protect your brand, this conversation will help you decide to choose the right legal partner.

[00:01] Introduction to the podcast and today’s topic

Securing Your Brand is your go-to podcast for everything related to protecting your creative assets. Whether it's trademarks, copyrights, or intellectual property, we bring you expert advice and actionable insights to safeguard your business, your brand, and your future. Hosted by Kevin Rosenquist, we simplify the complexities of intellectual property law so you can focus on building your empire with confidence.