Successful businesses have strong brand identities. Creating this identity is important, but so is legally protecting it. Domain names, social handles, logos, and other intellectual property (IP) are cornerstones of your dental practice. Your brand influences how you market your business and how your current and potential patients perceive you and the services you offer. You do not want the brand ID you have carefully curated to be vulnerable to infringement, misuse, or loss.

A dental practice consulting attorney with our law firm can guide you through the legal side of branding and help you take steps to safeguard your IP.

How to Protect Domain Names

Your domain name is more than just a URL. Your online presence is crucial, and for some potential patients, it may be their first contact with your brand. You want a domain name that clearly identifies your business and is easy for users to remember.

Protecting your domain name begins with finding a reputable domain registrar. Choosing multiple-year registration and automatic renewals can prevent accidental expiration or the need for frequent renewals. Ensure that you shield your domain name account with a complex and unique password. In addition, you should:

Register early to prevent another business from securing your desired domain name.
Consider registering multiple variations of your domain name (such as .org and .net versions) to prevent cybersquatting.
Conduct a search before registering to avoid infringement.
Monitor domains with similar domain registrations to protect against potential violations.

How to Protect Social Media Handles

Instagram, TikTok, and other social media platforms can be powerful marketing tools for your dental practice. However, social media handles can be impersonated and misused. You can protect social media handles by:

Using the same handle across all social media platforms to create consistency and reduce the chance of confusion with another brand (or an impostor).
Monitor social media for instances of impersonation or misuse and report them via the channels offered by the social media platform. Request that the platform remove them.
Trademark your handle if possible.

Protecting Other Intellectual Property

Logos, symbols, slogans, and other intellectual property unique to your brand are trademarks that should be protected. You can protect this intellectual property by:

Searching the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database to ensure you are not infringing on another brand before you invest in your brand identity.
Federally registering your trademark to enhance your legal protections.
Copywriting your web design, logo, and any other marketing materials that may qualify for this type of protection.
Enforcing your rights by monitoring for misuse and infringement and taking legal action when necessary.

How a Lawyer Can Help Safeguard Your Brand

Our firm’s dental law attorneys can help you take proactive steps to safeguard your brand identity and the intellectual property surrounding it. We can:

Conduct domain name, social media handle, and trademark searches
Register your domain name and file your trademark
Help you establish a system for monitoring and maintaining trademarks and protecting your online presence
Take legal action against parties that infringe on your IP, including engaging in litigation when necessary

Our team provides comprehensive legal services to dental professionals nationwide. In addition to intellectual property issues, we assist clients with buying a dental practice, selling a dental practice, dental practice valuations, dental practice startups, and dental contracts.

Contact Mahan Dental Law Today

Mahan Dental Law has represented hundreds of medical professionals from across the country. We collaborate with dental attorneys nationwide to offer our services in all 50 states.

We provide strategic advice to dental practices. From market research and analysis to business entity formation, we are here for you. Let us help you strengthen your brand by protecting your domain name, social media handles, and other intellectual property.

To learn more, contact us online or call now for a consultation.