Registering your trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) gives you the legal presumption of nationwide ownership, the right to use the ® symbol, the ability to record your mark with U.S. Customs, and access to brand protection programs such as Amazon Brand Registry. The process is more technical than it looks, and mistakes in an application often cannot be corrected later.
Our registration services
- Clearance search. Before you file, and ideally before you launch, we search for conflicting marks and assess the risk of refusal or a dispute with an existing owner.
- Strategy. Choosing what to register (name, logo or both), the right classes of goods and services, and whether to file based on current use or intent to use.
- Application. Drafting precise descriptions of goods and services and preparing proper specimens showing how the mark is used.
- Office actions. Responding to USPTO examiners’ refusals, including likelihood of confusion and descriptiveness refusals, within strict deadlines.
- Publication and opposition. Monitoring the opposition period after the mark is published, and responding if a third party objects.
- Statement of use and registration. Completing intent-to-use applications once the mark is in use.
- Maintenance. Filing the required declarations between the fifth and sixth years and renewals every ten years, so that your registration is not cancelled.
Overseas applicants
Applicants domiciled outside the United States, including companies in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, must be represented by a U.S.-licensed attorney. We represent overseas brands directly, and help them plan U.S. protection alongside their home-country registrations.
Beware of scam notices
After you file, you may receive official-looking letters demanding fees for “registration” or “monitoring” services. These are not from the USPTO. We review any notices you receive and handle all genuine USPTO correspondence for you.