How to Trademark - Trademark Registration Process

Step-by-Step Process to Obtain a Trademark

Below is a summary of the full process for registering a trademark. While a lot of legal stuff happens under the hood, we make it easy for you to file and register a trademark.

1. The first thing you have to do before you can apply for a trademark is decide the mark you will use to identify a product or service. For example, some of the well-known trademark names today include Microsoft® for software, McDonalds® for restaurant, and Rolex® for watches.

2. File your trademark using our easy Trademark Application questionnaire.

3. After receiving your online application, we'll transmit your submitted information electronically to the Trademark Office. Filing your application electronically is the fastest way to get your application filed with the USPTO.

4. You'll receive an email with a link so you can review and e-sign the trademark application. If you need to make any changes, let us know and we can revise it until you are completely satisfied. If your order has a search, we’ll email you the search report in PDF file.

5. After you review and e-sign the application, the required government application fee is due to the government.

6. The Trademark Office will then email you a receipt and assign the application a serial number.

7. About three months after the filing date, an examining trademark attorney will review your application and decide whether to grant you the mark, or request additional information from the applicant. The examining attorney may request more information to clarify certain parts of the mark and/or description language. If the examining attorney has questions, objections or recommended changes then you will receive an Office Action letter. The applicant must respond to any objections within six months of the mailing date of the letter or the application will be abandoned.

8. If there are no objections, then the examining attorney will approve the mark. If your application is based on intent to use, you will need to submit a formal statement that you have begun to use the mark in commerce before an official certificate will be issued.

9. The mark will then be published in the Official Gazette to allow anyone to oppose your mark if he or she believes that they will be damaged by the mark registration. If no opposition if filed within the time specified by Section 13(a) of the Statue or by rules 2.101 or 1.102 of the Trademark Rules, the Commissioner of the Patents and Trademarks will issue a Certificate of Registration.