MyKaiju is a registered trademark

4.15.2020

In the middle of a pandemic, there is something small to smile about. Today, MyKaiju® is official a registered trademark. After about a six-month process of applying for the trademark and cleaning up my mistakes, I received the final notice: “Official USPTO Notification of Notice of Publication: U.S. Trademark SN 88634099: MYKAIJU.” I’m grateful to the USPTO and the lawyer assigned to my account. A very special thank you and appreciation to my brother Mark, who guided and encouraged me through the process. I would like to also thank his lawyer, who gave me counsel early in the process and my friend Jeremy Soles of Kaiju Summit International, who also provided encouragement.

The MyKaiju® logo is used in black, white, and red (#ed4136 and PMS 179C).

I never thought that I would have trademark and registered mark. Why a trademark? After publishing the second issue of the MyKaiju® Magazine last year, a rush of emotions went through me when I realized someone could legitimately use the name “MyKaiju” because it was unprotected and not recognized as my mark and property. And all my work and branding for the last five years would be for nothing. So I had to do it. But I was delayed. Then last fall when my first X-Plus box art was released with My Kaiju on the side panel, I knew I had to protect the name. So I jumped right to it and submitted by trademark application. I had been using MyKaiju for years and held the domain name as early as 2003. The logo has been applied to my toy photography and website for more than five years.

X-Plus Yuji Sakai Godzilla 1995 Soft Vinyl Model Kit

Since submitting the trademark application, I’ve been using the TM beside my logo. Wikipedia: “The trademark symbol (™) is a symbol to indicate that the preceding mark is a trademark. It is usually used for unregistered trademarks, as opposed to the registered trademark symbol (®) which is reserved for trademarks registered with the appropriate government agency.” Today, I can place the registered mark ® beside MyKaiju® signifying that the word “My Kaiju” belongs to me. Wikipedia: “The registered trademark symbol is a symbol that provides notice that the preceding word or symbol is a trademark or service mark that has been registered with a national trademark office. A trademark is a symbol, word, or words legally registered or established by use as representing a company or product. The trademark owner can be an individual, business organization, or any legal entity. A trademark may be located on a package, a label, a voucher, or on the product itself. For the sake of corporate identity, trademarks are often displayed on company buildings. It is legally recognized as a type of intellectual property.” I look forward to proudly using my mark on various items and products in the future. Thank you for your support.

MyKaiju™ is the design services of John Ruffin including toy photography. MyKaiju.com is the portfolio of MyKaiju™ toy photography and design that celebrates the world’s greatest monsters.