How to Register With Federal Trademark
Registering with federal trademark office is a necessary process in order to protect a particular design, phrase or name of a product you would like to sell. Trademarks that are not officially registered are noted by the TM symbol, while trademarks that are registered are notated with a circled capital "R." In order to properly register a trademark, you must file an application through the Washington D.C.-based United States Patent and Trademark Office.
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Instructions
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Learn the Facts
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Read basic facts about trademarks. In order to familiarize yourself with the process and how trademarks work, visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office's website. Listed on the site is detailed information explaining trademarks as well as a contact telephone number to call if you have additional questions.
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Search to see if a trademark might already be registered. This can easily be done by searching a database on to the United States Patent and Trademark Office website. The service is free.
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Fill out an application. Trademark applications can be filled out online or can be written applications sent in the mail. In 2010, the process cost more than $300. You must be the actual owner of the trademark in order to file the application.
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Exercise patience. It can take up to a year or longer to receive a certificate of registration for a trademark.
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Tips & Warnings
Even after a trademark is registered, the registration does not remain valid for a lifetime. After receiving a certificate of registration, another application must be filed five to six years later and about a year before the 10-year mark passes from the date of registration, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
