Registering Trademarks

Trademarks are critical for businesses to attract consumer recognition and loyalty.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office divides trademarks into 45 different "classes." You must choose the proper class when applying for trademark registration.

An unregistered trademark is a trademark that has not been registered with a government agency.

The federal Supplemental Register is a secondary list for trademarks and service marks that don't qualify for the Principal Register.

Applying for a federal trademark has many complications. What are some of the basics of the process?

There are two ways to qualify as a first user of a trademark:

As markets become increasingly globalized, businesses need to protect their trademarks not just within the borders of the United States, but also around the world.

After five years of consecutive use from the date of federal registration, a mark may be declared incontestable.

Trademark your business or product name with all the information you need to choose a distinctive mark, register it with the USPTO, and fight infringement.

Just Do It, as Nike would say. The what, how, when, and why of trademarking a slogan.

Your company's name or logo is always displayed in a specific color. As you file your trademark application, how do you describe this color to guarantee protection?

Words and images are not the only ways to obtain a trademark. You might be surprised to learn that sounds can also function as a trademark. How?

In some cases, you can register your Internet domain name as a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.