The process of trademarking a company name is quite straightforward and affordable, and it is certainly worth its weight in gold in terms of preventing rivals from using it illegally.
The name you chose for your new company is frequently one of its most significant assets, and it is well worth preserving. By trademarking your company name with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), you obtain countrywide protection against competitors who may use a similar name.
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Here’s what you should budget for when registering a state company name or a federal trademark.
The Trademark Application Procedure
Once your company’s name has been given trademark protection, it cannot be used lawfully by another person or organisation. At the federal level, the process of trademarking a name starts with a trademark search to identify any possible conflicts.
Assuming there are no conflicts, you’ll need to file a trademark registration application with the USPTO. You must specify the mark as well as the kind of services or commodities for which it will be used in commerce in the application.
If your application is granted, the USPTO will award you a mark for your company name, which will provide you federal trademark protection against infringement on a national level and enable you to use the famous ® symbol on your products and services.
It also gives you an advantage if you need to assert your trademark in a federal court infringement lawsuit. The trademark for the name of your company is valid for ten years, after which you must submit an application for renewal.
Fees for a Business Name Trademark
You should budget between $250 and $750 when submitting an application to trademark your company name on a federal level with the USPTO.
The trademark fees you’ll pay, according to the USPTO website, are determined by:
The number of trademarks you are looking for
The category of products and services for which you seek to register a trademark
In a single application, an applicant may only request a single trademark. A typical application fee is between $250 and $350.
If you want to trademark numerous categories of products or services, you must submit different applications and pay separate filing costs for each. This procedure may be costly.
Cost of Filing a Trademark Application Online
The USPTO recommends that applicants submit their applications electronically using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) or one of the numerous alternative online filing services.
For each class of products or services, the costs for electronically submitted trademark applications vary from $250 to $350.
The Cost of Filing a Paper Application Form
While the TEAS is the preferred way for completing a trademark registration application, you may still file a “paper” application form with the USPTO.
A paper trademark application generally costs $750 for each class of services or commodities.
Whatever method you choose, bear in mind that the filing cost is not refundable if the USPTO rejects your application to trademark a company name.
Costs of Renewal
After the 10-year trademarking term has elapsed, the charge to renew your mark may be as much as $300 if filed online, and $400 if filed on paper.
If, on the other hand, you simply want to register your company name in your home state, most states charge $50 to $150 to submit a single trademark application.
Other Fees
In addition to the filing fees, if you elect to hire a qualified patent attorney to help you with the patent application filing and registration procedure, you need spend an additional $500 to $2,000 to pay those costs.
It is your obligation to enforce your trademark rights. It’s critical to keep an eye on your trademark and respond quickly if you suspect someone is infringing on it.