Q: If I own the trademark to a phrase that includes a slang/abbreviated word, do I have to register the full word too.
Example. Trademark is: I Luv New York. Do I need a separate registration for I Love New York.
A:
In the U.S., registration of a term or phrase is not required to establish rights if the term or phrase is already in use in commerce as a trademark to identify your company as the source of its products and/or services. Registration (federal or state) does provide some certain substantive benefits.
"Luv" and"Love" are phonetic equivalents and do not appear to be sufficiently distinctive to create two separate trademarks.
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