Getting a trademark is one thing and registering it is another. There are common laws that apply to unregistered trademarks that give limited protection in certain geographical regions. But the only way to have an air-tight legal case is to properly register your trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Specifically, what a trademark can be is a word, group of words, a design, symbol, or any combination of any or all of them.  By registering this with the federal government at the USPTO, you can be legally protected against any unauthorized use to what was registered to represent your product. This way, your investment on building up the reputation of said trademark will be protected against any adversary that may be your competition.

By having it registered, you will also receive the help of the US Customs Agency against any foreign or domestic company importing anything with your trademark on it.

Before you can register your trademark, a search of existing trademarks must be completed. This is to make sure you do not infringe on any existing trademark. This can be done at the USPTO website. If you are unsure if your design or words can be registered, a patent and trademark lawyer should be consulted. They specialize in this aspect of law.

The basic cost of filing for a trademark is $375 for a paper application, and $325 for an electronic application. There are other fees and cost that could be associated with your filing so it is advisable to visit the USPTO website and learn what you need to do.

One word of warning is that just because you applied does not mean you will be getting a trademark. It does have to be approved first.