Trademark Registration

Legal Guidance Throughout
the Trademarking Process

• Trademark Examination

  Generally, the Trademark application will be reviewed by an examining attorney at the USPTO  about six to nine months after the filing date.  CTLG will periodically update you on the status of your Trademark application. If the examining attorney does not find the Trademark application currently registerable, an “Office Action” is issued by the examining attorney stating the reasons as to why the Trademark is not registerable. During Trademark examination, CTLG will contact you and notify you of the “Office Action,” provide you with options, and cost associated with responding to the “Office Action.” A well-crafted Response to the “Office Action” may persuade the examining attorney to allow the Trademark to Register. However, there is no guarantee of registration.

• Trademark Disputes

  Once a trademark has been identified by the examining attorney as trademark-able, the trademark will be published for opposition. The United States Trademark Office will notify CTLG of the opposition, at which time CTLG will contact you and let you know the dates of publication.

  In some cases, another trademark holder may oppose your registration. This will start a Trademark Opposition that will be handled by the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board. CTLG will work with you to argue on your behalf that the trademark found registrable by the examining attorney is indeed registrable under.

  Is your trademark being opposed? Not sure what that means and how to proceed? Contact us and let CTLG represent you in front of the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board to protect your rights. 

• Trademark Opposition

  Trademark oppositions are contested proceedings held within the Trademark Office. Trademark oppositions are submitted after the Trademark Office has preliminary approved your trademark application. Generally, trademark oppositions are filed by business or individuals that believe your Trademark will affect the trademark owned by the business or individual in a negative way. 

• Trademark Cancellations

  Trademark cancellations are contested proceedings held within the Trademark Office. Trademark cancellations are submitted by a third party that believes your trademark is no longer being used or you are not entitled to the Trademark for various legal reasonings. Trademark cancellations are filed after a Trademark has been registered by the U.S. Trademark Office. 

• Trademark Registration

  If the examining attorney has identified your Trademark to be registrable, the examining attorney will notify CTLG of registration. CTLG will then notify you that the Trademark is registrable. Before the registration is issued the United States Patent and Trademark Office requires registration fees to be paid. Registration may occur within three to six months of the registration fees being paid. CTLG will then advise you of all rights associated with your registration. 

• Trademark Maintenance

  Upon registration of your trademark you will be required to maintain your Trademark. Generally, you can expect to pay a government maintenance fee every five to ten years to maintain your trademark. Failure to pay these government fees will cancel your trademark and the goodwill associated with your trademark. CTLG will send reminders as to when these payments are due.

  Already have a registered trademark? Not sure when maintenance fees are due? Contact us and let CTLG worry about due dates. 

• Trademark Monitoring

  Trademarks are the only source of Intellectual Property that never falls into the public domain as long as the trademark owner utilized the trademark for goods and services. Additionally, a trademark owner must also monitor and enforce the trademark against other utilizing the registered trademark or run the risk of losing the trademark.

  Understandably, trademark owners are busy running a business selling goods and providing services. Let CTLG provide monitoring services for your trademark or portfolio of trademarks to make sure other are not infringing your trademark. Contact us and let us customize a monitoring plan that works for you.  

   

• Trademark Portfolio Management

  As your business has grown, so has the number of trademarks your business owns. Making sure all trademark maintenance fees are paid and monitoring for infringement of your portfolio is a full time job. Additionally, there may be future products or services you would like to trademark. Contact us and let CTLG help devise a Trademark strategy that fits your company. 

• Trademark Enforcement

  In order to maintain  your trademark, you are required to enforce your trademark against infringers or run the risk of losing your trademark from non-enforcement. Enforcing a trademark may be as simple as sending cease and desist letter or a complicated and tricky as filing a lawsuit. CTLG has experience and know how to help you enforce your trademark.

  Contact us and let CTLG Trademark Attorneys help you understand how to properly enforce your trademark.

  Know of a possible trademark infringer? Unsure of how to proceed? Contact us and let CTLG Trademark Attorneys review the matter and guide you no your next steps.