Protecting Innovation: Trademarks and Their Significance in the Hydrogen Fuel Industry
July 28, 2023The effects of climate change are undeniable. Luckily, an increasing number of people are taking the climate change threat seriously and taking personal or corporate action.
With fossil fuel significantly contributing to climate change, hydrogen fuel is becoming a strong contender for replacing fossil fuels, with notable companies adopting the technology.
Like other forms of technology, IP protection is critical for companies in the Hydrogen fuel industry. This guide looks at trademarks in particular and their significance in the industry.
Background of the Hydrogen Fuel Industry
The concept of using hydrogen fuel as a power source has its roots in the 19th century, but the industry started picking off in the 1970. In the early days, the hydrogen fuel industry was mainly focused on industrial applications.
However, recent years have seen increased interest in using hydrogen in the automotive industry as an alternative to fossil fuels and electric-powered cars. The smell of money in the industry is attracting the attention of many investors in the industry, creating the need for creating a strong brand identity through trademarks for the companies involved.
Understanding Trademarks
Trademarks refer to a brand’s markers, such as brand names, logos, slogans, sounds, and graphics. The primary purpose of trademarks is to help the consumer pick out one brand’s product from its market competition.
Trademark rights can apply on a first-to-use basis, meaning if a hydrogen fuel company uses a specific name, it can claim ownership of it even when they haven’t registered it. However, laying a claim can be somewhat of a challenge.
The most effective way of securing rights to your identifiers is registering them with the relevant governmental authority, which guarantees exclusivity to your trademarks for 10 years, renewable after payment of a service fee.
You can get trademark answers here if you want to learn more about trademarks in Canada, from where to register, what you can and cannot register, and how to handle infringement of your rights.
The Significance of Trademarks in the Hydrogen Fuel Industry
Brand Recognition
Competition in the hydrogen fuel industry is gaining momentum, and only brands that have nailed their brand awareness strategies will stay competitive. The first step towards creating strong brand recognition is having strong trademarks and their legal rights.
When matched with quality product and service delivery, trademarks effectively enhance brand recognition. A good example would be the swoosh sign. Almost everyone links the swoosh sign to Nike and will have some expectation of quality when buying a Nike-branded product because that is what they have stood for over the years.
Building Reputation
Image is everything when running a business; the last thing any company wants is to imply a lack of seriousness to its partners and customers. After registering trademarks, a brand gets the right to use the registered trademark (®) sign alongside their markers.The ® sign makes a huge difference in terms of building credibility. Your audiences will be more likely to trust you, and business partners such as lenders will be more open to collaborating with you. Also, having exclusivity to your trademarks helps you control how your audiences interact with your brand since you can control how, when, and where your trademarks can be used.
Trademark Registration Process
The process of registering trademarks can be a challenge in most jurisdictions. So, having an IP expert or lawyer helping with the registration process is always an excellent idea. Typically the process starts with a trademark search on the local database before extending to the global database.
It is also important to conduct an online search to be sure no one can claim a trademark on a first-to-use basis. Once you are sure your trademark is available, you must pay applicable fees.
If accepted, you get a certificate of ownership that offers protection in your country. If you need protection beyond your country, consider registering your trademark with WIPO.