In this post, we’d love to introduce you to our Intellectual Property Goal Breakdown worksheet. This is available on our Free Resources page at no cost to you, and is a helpful tool to make sure you are making SMART goals in your intellectual property (IP) strategy. So without further ado, here’s what this helpful resource looks like:
Why use this worksheet?
You might be wondering, why do I need this worksheet? Well, I’m here to tell you why!
Many times we have big goals in connection with our vision for our IP. Maybe your goal is to have a trademark registration for your business name or product with the USPTO? Or maybe you want to make sure your mark is available for your use so you don’t get someone telling you to stop using it in the future? Perhaps maybe you want to file a copyright registration for your new e-book?
A lot of maybes there, but you can see how you might get lost in the execution of these goals. You could generally have these goals in mind, but without specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound goals (i.e., SMART goals), these goals can simply get swept away or seem unattainable.
IP Goal Example
For example, let’s use the example that your goal is to have a trademark registration for your business name at the USPTO. This is a big goal with many time consuming steps, and many steps that are not in your control (e.g., it is up to the examining attorney at the USPTO to grant your trademark registration). These types of goals can seem off-putting and can lead to you delaying things until next week, which can quickly become next year. Next thing you know, a year has passed and you haven’t come close to meeting your goal.
So at this point you might also be wondering, well, what can I do to make sure that this doesn’t happen to me? Well, breaking your intellectual property goals into small tasks using SMART goals will help you overcome any procrastination in attaining these goals. And remember to exclude steps that are not within your control, as those steps are within someone else’s control. Remember to check off your goals as you complete them, which allows you to see where you’ve been, what you’ve done, and what you have left to do to meet your goal.
IP Goal Breakdown for Obtaining a Trademark Registration
The path to getting a trademark registration really starts with the trademark application process. And in order to file a trademark application for your mark, using the Intellectual Property Goal Breakdown worksheet, you could break it down like this:
Overall Goal: Have a trademark application filed and pending at the USPTO for the trademark COMPUTER by the end of next week.
| ✓ | Task | Time Needed | Date Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conduct a trademark clearance search for the trademark “COMPUTER” in connection with apples using the USPTO website and an online search engine | 1 hour | Beginning of next week. Will conduct the search on Monday morning. | |
| Draft the specific goods/services I want to apply for “COMPUTER”, and check them against the USPTO manual of goods/services | 1 hour | Middle of next week. Will draft the goods/services on Wednesday afternoon. | |
| Fill out a trademark application information collection sheet so I have all of my information ready for filing “COMPUTER” | 45 minutes | End of next week. Will fill out all necessary information on Thursday morning. | |
| File a trademark application on the TEAS Plus website for the trademark “COMPUTER” in connection with apples | 1 hour | End of next week. Will file by Friday before lunch. |
When these IP goals are broken down into small tasks that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (i.e., SMART), then the unattainable quickly becomes attainable. Using our Intellectual Property Goal Breakdown worksheet will have you accomplishing your IP goals as you need them. Always remember to make your IP goals SMART goals!
Free Resources for You on this Site!
If you haven’t checked out our Free Resources page yet, I encourage you to do so now! We’re constantly adding new materials and resources to it, and we hope you find it helpful in your IP journey!
With love,
Rose
Founder of FreedomRose LLC
