Congratulations, you just filed a Trademark Application – but, now what?
After filing a Trademark Application with the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), you will receive confirmation that the Application has been filed. This confirmation usually comes from your attorney. The Application will be assigned to an examining attorney at the USPTO within about three months, and it is typically one to three months after that date before the USPTO sends its first communication on your pending Application.
It is important to note that after filing the Application, you have 6-months during which you can file trademark applications in other countries and claim priority to your U.S. filing.
One thing to be aware of – the trademark database is public. Since filing a Trademark Application involves public records, you WILL receive solicitations from third-party vendors asking you to sign up for their services. This is very similar to the third-party solicitations sent to new homeowners upon purchasing a property. These services are not necessary, and their solicitations are NOT invoices, even though they look like one.
While you are waiting to hear from the USPTO, you might be wondering what the process is for your Trademark Application to be approved. Once the Application is filed, the examiner will review your Application. If corrections are required, your attorney will communicate with you and make the appropriate changes on your behalf.
Should the examiner determine the Application meets the basic requirements and passes the clearance search, your Application will then be published for opposition. This means that the USPTO will allow the opportunity to others to object to your application. If there is no opposition within the given timeframe, the USPTO will register the Trademark and you will get your ®!
If you have any questions on filing a trademark application, or if you are interested in other forms of intellectual property protection, please contact one of our experienced trademark attorneys. We have handled hundreds of trademark applications and are here to help you protect your intellectual property!
