Once you have determined that a proposed name is available and that you want to legally protect it, the next step is federal trademark registration. A brief overview of the registration process is as follows:

Application Questionnaire

In less than five minutes answer a few basic questions on our online application questionnaire and the DirectLegal team will do the rest.

Trademark Search

First, we'll conduct a customized trademark search depending on your needs. We can perform a Knock-Out Search for direct conflicts (free with trademark application). If you prefer, you can order a Comprehensive Search not only for direct conflicts, but for similar marks and even similar sounding names.

Application Preparation

If, as a result of our search, no conflicts are found, we'll prepare your application and all required documents ready for filing with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). Our professional staff reviews your application for accuracy, completeness and common errors.

If a direct conflict with your proposed trademark is found, we will contact you before proceeding any further. This can save a lot of time and money in the future.

We then offer two service choices:

If you'd like, we can simply complete the required documents and email or mail them to you ready for filing. We'll even send you easy-to-follow filing instructions. Once registered, your Registration Certificate will be mailed directly to you.

We also offer a USPTO filing service. See below.

Trademark Office Filing

We can also file directly for you with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). We'll send you your completed documents by email for electronic signature, and then file electronically on your behalf.

Application Confirmation

If filed electronically, you will receive a summary of the filing by e-mail including the serial number of the application. All future correspondence with the USPTO must include this serial number.

If filed by paper application and sent by regular mail, allow about two- three weeks to receive a filing receipt for your application. This filing receipt will include the serial number of the application.

Application Review

The USPTO then reviews the application to determine whether it complies with all applicable rules and statutes and includes all required fees. Typically, this occurs within about six months of the filing date.

Certificate of Registration

If the registration is granted, a Certificate of Registration is issued. This certificate from the USPTO is prima facie evidence of the validity of the registered mark and of the registration of the mark, of the registrant's ownership and exclusive right to use the registered mark in commerce on or in conjunction with the goods or services specified in the certificate.

Timeline

Generally, allow between eight months to more than one year to secure a federal registration certificate from the USPTO. However, your "effective registration date" is the date of filing regardless of how long the USPTO takes to issue your registration certificate.

Trademark Monitoring

As an optional service, using state-of-the-art technology, we will continuously monitor the federal trademark database for any new trademark and service mark applications that may conflict with your mark.

We'll send you monthly email reports so you'll be immediately alerted should anyone attempt to register the same or similar mark.