We suppose that, by this point, you've figured out that we're mostly saying this to cover our asses. However, the fact is that consulting a trademark attorney can go a long way toward covering your ass, if anything goes wrong. Do what you have time to do and what you feel comfortable doing by yourself, and consult an attorney to fill in the gaps. Attorneys really aren't as bad as you think. They just charge a lot.
And there you have it: a basic outline of how to get a trademark. Another website that provides information about trademarks (and patents and copyrights) is maintained by the law firm of Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman (CLL.com). Happy trademarking!
