You are not required to file a trademark application for registration with the US Trademark Office in order to have trademark rights. But there are advantages of federal trademark registration, including:
Others cannot register a mark that is confusingly similar to your mark.
A trademark registration is constructive notice of your claim of ownership in your mark.
A trademark registration is a legal presumption of your exclusive right to use the mark nationwide.
A trademark registration is a basis for registering your mark in foreign countries.
A trademark registration allows the trademark owner to bring an infringement action in Federal Court.
A trademark registration allows the trademark owner to file with U.S. Customs to prevent others from importing infringing foreign goods.
A trademark registration allows you to use the encircled-R notation ® after the mark is registered.
