File trademark with federal government

With respect to actually filing a trademark application there are essentially two options. First, you can do it yourself.

Second, you can hire an attorney. Filing a trademark application is not as easy as it might seem due to the fact that it can be difficult, if not impossible, to amend an application if you make a mistake at the time of filing. Indeed, in many situations when filing mistakes are made the cheapest solution will be to simply file a second application properly, but that creates a delay in acquiring rights.

That being the case, and the relatively inexpensive cost of hiring an attorney to do it right from the start, I generally recommend hiring an attorney.

He is a patent attorney and a leading commentator on patent law and innovation policy. Quinn has twice been named one of the top 50 most influential people in IP by Managing IP Magazine, in both and From , Mr. Read more. One comment so far. Pareshkumar C. Our website uses cookies to provide you with a better experience. Read our privacy policy for more information. Accept and Close. Home News Business State vs. Gene Quinn 4 years ago. Join the Discussion One comment so far.

Mostly overlooked subject matter. View Comments. You might also choose to protect a slogan or logo for those goods or services, if you have one. Deciding what you want to protect and to what extent is up to you. You can have a brand, but decide not to protect that brand by registering it as a trademark.

Department of Commerce, the U. Patent and Trademark Office, or any other federal agency. For other assistance, please see our contact us page. Trademark, patent, or copyright. Trademark Patent Copyright What's legally protected? This puts potential competitors on notice that should they infringe upon your mark. You have the right to file a federal trademark infringement action and to obtain remedies as a result of their infringement.

These enhanced remedies are usually not available for unregistered, common law trademarks. Thus, considering the fairly minimal cost of filing for a registration vs all the benefits that a registration bestows upon the trademark owner, we usually recommend federal registration for the trademarks and service marks for the vast majority of businesses, enterprises, and even individuals.

The USPTO has created a brief eleven-minute video that explains the importance of trademark registration, how registered trademarks differ from common law trademarks, and a bit about the registration process. Call us. We can help. Contact me for a free initial consultation.

These pages provide guidance on filing a federal trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark office. The trademark filing overview page gives a general summary of the guidance available in this section. What will it cost? When should you file?

Is your invention valuable? Should you search? Should you file a provisional? What is a section ? Do you need an attorney? How do you identify goods? A Video Explanation from the U. Trademark Office. Guidance on Trademark Applications These pages provide guidance on filing a federal trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark office.

Why should you federally register your trademark? What is a trademark and when do you have one? What is a "Common Law" trademark?