Andy Walsh2x Exited Founder, Startup Strategist & Podcast Host

Why Trademark Registration Changes Everything

26 Jun 2026 · 1 min

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The U.S. lets you use a trademark without registering it, but federal registration gives you real power: you can work with Customs to stop counterfeit goods at the border before they hit stores. That matters most for companies importing products overseas.

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That doesn't mean that you can't take action with regard to trademark infringement without a registration. The US is a first-to-use country, but it could affect the rights and remedies you have if you have a registration versus if you don't. If you have a registration, you can also work with Customs and Border Protection for a lot of our CPG companies out there. If you're physically shipping something from overseas, having the ability to maybe stop counterfeits or stop infringing products at the border is very helpful before it even gets to US consumers.