Big news: “What If We Were®️” is now officially a registered trademark.

We’ve earned that symbol “®”—the highest mark of brand protection in the U.S.—after 11 months of effort and dedication. Let’s dig into why that matters and celebrate what this means for us, our message, and children.

July 21, 2025

 

The Power Behind the Brand

 

If you’ve followed the journey of C.M. Harris, you already know this isn’t just another children’s book series.

 

From What If We Were All Kind! to What If We Were All The Same!, each title in the series is rooted in social-emotional learning, empathy, inclusion, and self-worth. These stories aren’t just for reading—they’re for growing.
 

Behind this series is C.M. Harris—an author, advocate, and disability warrior who transformed her own challenges with Charcot-Marie-Tooth and Trigeminal Neuralgia into a powerful voice for change. Through her imprint, Purple Diamond Press, she’s helping children see themselves in stories that uplift, affirm, and inspire.

 

Now, that voice is legally protected.

1. Why TM Matters—and Why ®️ Means Business

A trademark isn’t just a logo or name—it’s your brand’s promise to the world. It signals quality, values, and identity. When you build something meaningful—something that resonates with families, educators, and communities—you have to protect it.

  • Strengthens your exclusive rights: With the ® symbol, we hold a federally registered trademark under the Lanham Act. That gives us nationwide protection and access to federal courts if anyone copies or mimics our brand or work.
  • Builds trust: Consumers instantly know “What If We Were®️” belongs to us—and that everything tied to that mark meets our standards.
  • Blocks imitators and diluters: Letting others, especially low-quality or potentially harmful users, ride on our name can dilute our impact and confuse our audience. Trademark safeguards that.
  • Grows in value: Your brand is an asset. Each time it’s used in commerce, it compounds its worth. Registered marks can even reach “incontestable” status after five years—cementing your permanent ownership

Let’s be clear: copyright protects our content—the words, the images, the design. But copyright alone isn’t enough.
 

Trademark protects our identity—the name, the brand, the series title. And now that protection is bulletproof.

 

So whether it’s a school using our books or a partner collaborating on a new project, we can confidently stand behind a brand that’s backed by law.

2. Why Copyright & Trademark Go Hand-in-Hand

It secures the future from books to school resources to merchandise and possible licensing, a registered trademark opens doors for smart, safe growth.

  • Copyright safeguards the creative work—our stories, illustrations, rhymes. As on the author's website: CMHarrisBooks.com’s Terms of Use confirm that all textual and visual content is fully owned and cannot be shared or altered without permission.
  • Trademark protects the brand identity. “What If We Were®️” is now a distinct, legally protected identity that can’t be appropriated or misrepresented.

🎯 Combined, they guard your intellectual property from both copying (copyright issues) and counterfeiting or brand confusion (trademark concerns).

3. Meet C.M. Harris: Powerhouse Author, Advocate, Brand
  • Award-winning author, SE kids’ author, disability advocate and founder of Purple Diamond Press  .
  • Diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease and Trigeminal Neuralgia, yet turned adversity into opportunity—creating books celebrating inclusion, confidence, kindness.
  • What If We Were®️ is more than a series: it’s a movement—10 SEL books teaching empathy, inclusion, honesty, generosity, and more  .
  • CEO & founder of Purple Diamond Press, Inc. Guiding aspiring authors to publish impactful stories making a difference

4. Trademark = Your Mission Amplifier

Registering the mark is a leap forward for the movement:

  • Protects the movement: No one else can hijack “What If We Were”—keeping our message pure.
  • Expands safely: We are expanding to create worksheets, posters, and partner with programs. TM gives us control and trust.
  • Secures funding & licensing: Brands, schools, media partners want certainty. ®️ signals maturity and commitment.
  • Drives growth:®️ becomes a rallying cry. Every endorsement, repost, and classroom that joins the “What If We Were” movement now connects to a trusted, protected brand.

Take a look at the lineup of books in the What If We Were® series:

 

  • What If We Were All the Same!
  • What If We Were All Friends!
  • What If We Were All Kind!
  • What If We Were All Generous!
  • What If We Were All Merry!
  • What If We Were All Honest!
  • What If We Were All Curious!
  • What If We Were All Mindful!
  • What If We Were All Loving!
  • What If We Were All Festive!
  • More to come? We shall see...

Each one stands on its own, but together, they form a message loud and clear: Children thrive when we teach compassion, representation, and self-love.

 

Now, that message is legally protected and ready to go even further.

5. To Creators Everywhere: Why This Matters to You
  • Copyright protects creative work from reproduction and theft.
  • Trademark protects your brand identity, reputation, and commercial rights.

Without them, creators risk being stolen from, taken advantage of, or diluted by imitators. With them, you gain control, credibility, and growth.

 

🚀 What’s Next?

 

This trademark unlocks new possibilities:

 

  • New partnerships with schools, libraries, and SEL programs
  • Custom resources and curriculum aligned with the series
  • Merchandise and licensed content that carries the message forward
  • Stronger advocacy for diversity, disability inclusion, and mental health in children’s literature

The brand is growing—and the vision is growing with it.

 

A Message to Fellow Creators

 

If you’re building something important—something personal, something with impact—protect it.

 

You don’t wait for someone to copy your work to start thinking about legal protection. You start now. You safeguard your voice, your vision, and your message.

 

That’s what this trademark means for What If We Were®. And that’s what it can mean for you, too.

 

 

🎉 Let’s Celebrate This Moment
 

Trademarking What If We Were® is more than a technical step. It’s a sign that this work matters. That this brand is trusted. And that we’re in it for the long haul.

 

So, here’s to protection. Here’s to purpose.

 

And here’s to a future where kids grow up knowing what it really means to be kind, curious, honest, and seen.

Final Word

What If We Were®️ isn’t just a brand—it’s a movement rooted in empathy, representation, and positive change. It’s now legally untouchable, primed for expansion, and ready to make waves.

 

Congratulations to C.M. Harris—author, founder, movement-leader. This registered trademark is a milestone, a statement, and a foundation.

 
Classroom Kindness Bundle

Classroom Kindness Bundle

$32.00
$39.99

Perfect Book Set for School Days

Inspire kindness, empathy, and self-acceptance in your classroom or home with this beautifully illustrated picture book bundle. Perfect for early elementary readers, this trio of empowering stories by award-winning author C.M. Harris helps young children explore important social-emotional lessons through engaging rhymes and relatable characters.

📘 Just Because… – A gentle story about self-love and embracing our differences.

📗 Why Can’t I… – A classroom tale encouraging kindness over bullying and the power of using our words wisely.

📙 My Teacher Says: A Day at School – A playful introduction to kindness, sharing, and classroom values—all told from a teacher’s encouraging point of view.

Whether you’re an educator, parent, or counselor, this bundle is a must-have for building a more inclusive, positive environment for children.
Quantity
What If We Were All Generous!

What If We Were All Generous!

$12.00

Hardcover — Pre-Order Today

What if we all lived to give?

What If We Were All Generous! is a heartwarming, rhyming picture book that shows children how acts of generosity—big or small—can create a kinder, more compassionate world. Whether it’s sharing time with a friend, offering a helping hand, or donating to those in need, this story helps kids see that giving goes beyond gifts.

This inspiring story empowers children to:

  • Give with love and intention

  • Share time, space, and kindness

  • Understand how generosity makes others feel seen and value

With vibrant illustrations and thoughtful examples, this book is perfect for classroom discussions, bedtime talks, and social-emotional learning.
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