Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

If you are referring to registering a trademark for your logo, the answer to your question really depends upon how important it is to you to prevent others from using the same or similar logo in their business.  Remember, just because you purchased the logo doesn`t mean this gives you trademark rights - potentially only copyright to the logo.  Trademark rights arise as a result of use of the logo in commerce.

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Stock photos with price in hundreds of dollars are rarely exclusive. You only bought the royalty free right to use the photo, not the exclusive right. Thus, it is not a good idea to use it (without significant altering) as trademark.

To answer the original question I would say anything that identifies your compan yor business need to be protected in some way.

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china business card / Wall Street Journal Reader

Thank you Johnqh for addressing the royalty free/usage vs exclusive rights. 

Yes, you should register your logo/trademark if you plan for long-term success and market dominance.  But before you begin the application process, you may want to do some research on your own.  As previously mentioned, the photo you bought from Adobe CANNOT be used...  Adobe, like Microsoft and Apple, ferociously protect their material.  Hire a photographer and/or designer to design a custom logo and make sure YOU OWN IT and GET IT IN WRITING.  Some photographers hid the fact that they own the copyright to images even after you`ve paid the fees. 

I`ve worked with one my clients on three logo and service trademarks in the past few years and using legal counsel is probably the best method.  And, be patient, it does take several months.