Register A Trademark For Your Business Today

To protect your business, it’s time to register a trademark in the US. We will get you through some basics on trademark registration and how it will benefit your business.

What is a trademark?

A trademark is any word, phrase, symbol, design, or combination of these things that will help identify your goods and services. It will help you distinguish your product or services amongst your competitors and help customers remember your product.

The word trademark can be used to refer to both trademarks and service marks. The word trademark is used for good, while the word service marks are used for services.

Common Misconceptions of Trademark Use

There are common misconceptions about the use of trademarks. One is thinking that you can prevent others from using it because you have the legal right to the trademark. To set things clear, you only have the right to use the word or phrase for specific goods or services, but you don’t own the word or phrase.

Another one is thinking that choosing a trademark to describe your goods and services is compelling enough, but you should read more about strong trademarks. Do a quick USPTO trademark search or USPTO patent search to check whether your trademark is a strong one. Having a unique one will be more effective and will make your trademark easier to protect.

Benefits of Having a Trademark

Having a registered trademark will broaden your rights and protection compared to an unregistered one.

Should there be concerns about the use of a trademark, you will have the ability to bring it to court. It can also be used as a basis to obtain registration in foreign countries.

Basically, registering for a trademark will expand your rights and give you the ability to file cases concerning your use of trademarks for your goods and services.

How much does it cost to register a trademark in the USA?

The cost varies. Your initial application cost will depend on which application filing form option you choose. It will also depend on the number of classes of goods or services you will have in your application. There might be additional fees as well, depending on your filing basis.

To give you an idea, the initial application form has two options: Option 1 is TEAS Plus which is around $250 per class of goods/services, and Option 2 is TEAS Standard which is $350 per class of goods and services.

Also, take note that you’ll need to pay to maintain the trademark on top of your cost to apply. This will be paid in regular intervals and will cost different amounts too.

How long does it take to register a trademark in the USA?

Trademark application in the USA usually takes 12 to 18 months. But there is no guarantee that your trademark will be registered because your application can be refused for a variety of legal reasons.

Many factors will affect the length of time that your trademark application will be approved. Your application moves through various stages, and knowing about each stage will help you understand why the process takes so long.

You can check out the timeline on the USPTO website for more details.

How do I register a trademark for free?

Unfortunately, you can not register a trademark for free. You can use the common law trademark for free, but it does offer you as much protection as registering your trademark.

A trademark application can be a long process, but the added protection it gives your business will be worth it. For example, if you have some homemade jewelry business and it starts to expand, you will have the rights to your logo, catchphrase, design, etc., when you register a trademark in the US.

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