How Do I Trademark My Business? A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction:
Trademarks are a crucial part of any business strategy, serving as a legal safeguard for your brand identity. This blog post will walk you through the process of trademarking your business, the associated costs, and the types of trademarks available.
What is a Trademark?
A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, or design that identifies your goods and services and distinguishes your brand from competitors1. A trademark gives you the exclusive right to use your mark and helps prevent competitors from using a mark that’s the same as or very similar to yours1. Simply using a name, logo, or slogan in your business gives it some level of trademark protection under common law, though these protections are hard to enforce and apply only in your immediate locality1.
Costs & Fees
The cost of a trademark can vary greatly from case to case. The total cost depends on several factors, including the number of marks you are filing, the number of classes they apply to, where you are filing, the type of application you’re filing, attorney fees, and more2. For the simplest of cases, you should expect to spend $250 to $350 per filing if you do it yourself. For more complex filings, expect to pay much more. You can also hire us at BlackSolvent to ensure everything is done correctly for an extra fee. Visit our website for more information.
Signatures, Names, and Logos
You can trademark signatures, names, and logos. The most common trademarks for a business include brand or business names, logos, and phrases (or tag lines)3. Trademarking your words offers stronger protection, as more trademark infringements are based on protected words rather than designs4.
7 Best Trademark Services 2023
- IncFile: Best Overall
- Rocket Lawyer: Most Affordable
- Inc Authority: Quickest Process
- LegalZoom: Most Qualified
- Trademark Plus: Best Pricing
- Corpnet: Best Service
- Trademark Factory: Most Comprehensive
Conclusion
Understanding the ins and outs of trademarks is vital for safeguarding your business identity and assets. Whether you’re looking to file for a trademark yourself or are considering hiring professionals like us at BlackSolvent, this guide serves as a comprehensive starting point.
BLACKSOLVENT PREPARING BUSINESSES FOR THE FUTURE
Sources
For more information, visit BlackHub.
Footnotes
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, “What Is a Trademark?” ↩ ↩2 ↩3
American Bar Association, “Costs of Trademarking” ↩
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, “Types of Trademarks” ↩
Intellectual Property Watchdog, “Words vs. Design in Trademarks” ↩
Harvard Business Review, “Trademark Licensing and Business” ↩ ↩2 ↩3
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The cost of a trademark can vary greatly case by case. For the simplest of cases, you should expect to spend $250 to $350 per filling if you do it yourself. For more complex filings, you can expect to pay much more1
- The length of time it takes to register a trademark varies depending on the specifics of your application. In general, it takes about 6-8 months for the USPTO to review your application and make a decision2.
