Trademark Basics: How do you register your trademark?

A strong, distinctive trademark is essential for growing your brand and protecting your business. Once you have developed your mark, you need to register it with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to receive protection. Registration with the USPTO is completed either by filling out and mailing in an application or by using the USPTO Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) which is located here. Use of the TEAS greatly reduces the cost of the application, but does require the applicant to provide more information up front. There are three application forms which can be used and the benefits and requirements are listed below. 

Select the application form that works best for you, fill in the required information, pay the required fee and submit to the USPTO. Your application will typically not be reviewed for at least three (3) months. After 3 months, your application will be reviewed. If you have selected a strong, distinctive mark, it will then be published in the USPTO’s Trademark Gazette for a few months. Assuming no contests have been filed, your trademark will be issued and added to the USPTO’s database of registered trademarks.

In the event that your mark is not distinctive, or has other issues, you will receive an Office Action from the USPTO. The Office Action will specify what the reviewer feels is wrong with your mark. Typically you have six (6) months to provide a response. If you don’t provide a response, the USPTO will deem your application abandoned. 

For more information about trademark registration and any questions about your trademark reach out to Royal Trademark Law Services.