1. University of Colorado Trademarks
Tara Dressler – Associate Director for Trademarks
and Patent Administration
1800 Grant Street, 7th Floor
Denver, CO 80203

2. What is a Trademark
A word, phrase, symbol, design, or a combination thereof that identifies goods

3. A trademark that identifies services
What is a Service Mark
A trademark that identifies services
rather than goods

4. Other Intellectual Property Protections
Copyright - an original or artistic literary work
Patents - inventions
Trade Secrets - any confidential business information which gives a company a competitive edge - the secret sauce.

5. CU Marks University of Colorado ®
(add Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Anschutz Medical Campus)

6. ® Legal Protections Federal Registration Common Law Rights TM
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Public notice of your ownership
Legal presumption of ownership
Exclusive right to use the mark nationwide
in connection with the goods or services
Have “standing” to sue in federal court
Deter unlicensed use
Common Law Rights
Actual use in commerce
Public notice of local ownership – small geographic area
No presumption of ownership
Can only enforce in state court TM

7. Trademark Benefits
Protects brand names and logos used on goods and services
Distinguishes your goods and services
Establishes goodwill associated with the marks
Generates revenue

8. Advancement Trademarks
Torchbearer – Tiered levels for giving
CU Ignite – Crowdfunding platform
Fund for CU – Giving fund Advancement and Foundation
All TM’s as they are not registered

9. Federal Registration – Should I File?
Recognition by the general public - nationwide
Long term use of the mark
Significant investment of resources to the project
Strong attachment to the mark
Block use by others

10. Additional Information
Enforcement – If a company tolerates use of its trademarks by others, the company can lose its rights to the trademark altogether.
Branding – The University of Colorado’s branding standards were established to bring consistency and coordination to its messages and visual images.

11. Steps for Protection
Clear the mark with Branding through your campus Brand Manager
Have a search performed and obtain opinion form outside counsel – Flat rate of $400
If all is well with steps 1 & 2 then the application is filed online – Filing fee of $275
If filed as an “intent to use” then additional step of Statement of Use – Filing fee of $100

12. Agreement Review
Confirm that permission to use the marks has been properly obtained. Limits on use of the Interlocking CU and athletics marks in particular.
Certain language that should be present in agreements that involve the use of the University’s marks and marks need to be properly identified.
Send agreements to me and I am happy to insert the correct language.

13. How Can I Help?
Assist in identifying marks that are in need of protection.
Obtain Federal Registration of those marks.
Maintain existing registrations.
Assist in determining if registration is needed or if common law rights are enough.
Assist with any enforcement of our marks and taking steps to stop infringement.
Help assess the rights in our marks and avoid infringement of other’s marks.
Assist with marketing and/or licensing of the marks.
Review trademark language in agreements.

14. Questions?