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Learn how to type the registered trademark symbol (®) on Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android—and, more importantly, when your business should actually use it....

Trademark registrations can last indefinitely, but only when owners meet every maintenance deadline and keep the record accurate. In the United States, that means a...

Adding “the,” “pro,” “delicious,” or another generic word to an existing brand usually does not erase a trademark conflict. This article explains why likelihood of...

Can ordinary words become trademarks? Yes—when they identify the source of specific goods or services instead of merely describing them. This article explains how suggestive...

Trademarks can last indefinitely, but only if you keep using them in commerce and file the right USPTO maintenance documents on time. This guide explains...

A registered trademark is valuable, but it is not untouchable. Trademark cancellation can happen when a mark is abandoned, no longer used, becomes generic, was...

A U.S. trademark protects your brand at home, but it does not automatically protect you internationally. Learn how country-by-country filings, the Madrid Protocol, trademark searches,...

The trademark opposition period is the short but critical window after a trademark application is published when another party can object before registration. In the...

Trademarked or generic? This plain-English guide turns famous words like “Just Do It,” “Post-it,” “Slurpee,” “Barbie,” “Jeep,” “Candy,” “Smartphone,” and “Festivus” into practical lessons for...

Restarting a trademark after abandonment, cancellation, or missed USPTO deadlines depends on what actually went wrong: an abandoned application, a canceled registration, an expired renewal...

A trademark can be one of the most valuable assets a business owns, but its value is not pulled from a hat, a logo file,...

A word mark trademark protects the actual words, letters, numbers, or phrase behind your brand name, not the logo, font, or color scheme. For founders...

A DIY trademark search can be useful, but typing your exact brand name into the USPTO database—or asking AI if the name is available—is not...

Dead trademarks can create major business opportunities — or massive legal headaches. In this article, we break down how abandoned trademarks work, when they can...

Can you trademark an idea? Surprisingly, no — and that misunderstanding costs entrepreneurs time, money, and sometimes entire businesses. Trademarks protect brand identifiers like names,...

Can you trademark a single word? Yes—but only if it meets strict legal standards. This article breaks down how trademark law evaluates distinctiveness, why common...

Trademark opposition allows businesses to challenge potentially conflicting trademark applications before they are officially registered. This proactive legal process, handled through the USPTO and TTAB,...

How similar can trademarks really be before legal trouble begins? The answer isn’t as simple as avoiding identical names. Trademark law hinges on the “likelihood...

Trademarking your game name and logo is essential for protecting your brand and preventing costly legal disputes. This guide walks through the full process—from trademark...

Received a Show Cause notice or Unauthorized Practice of Law warning on your trademark? You may have used a trademark filing service that crossed legal...

Design trademarks, also known as trade dress, protect the visual identity of your brand, including packaging, product design, and color schemes. Learn how to secure...

When a brand becomes so successful that it turns into a household name, it may be heading toward an unexpected downfall. Generic trademarks occur when...

Filing a trademark in a different class doesn’t automatically protect you from infringement. The real legal standard is “likelihood of confusion,” which focuses on whether...

Many businesses spend unnecessary money filing trademark applications in classes they don’t actually need. Promotional swag, mobile apps used internally, social media accounts, and branded...

Trademark class numbers and descriptions determine the true scope of your brand protection. When filing a trademark application, businesses must select from 45 international trademark...

Choosing the right number of trademark classes can make or break a startup’s brand protection strategy. File too few and risk costly refiling during expansion....

When co-founders create a brand together, splitting personal trademark ownership may feel fair—but it can quietly weaken enforceability, complicate licensing, and scare off investors. Trademark...

Many business owners believe using a brand name automatically protects it. In reality, common law (unregistered) trademarks offer limited, fragile rights tied to geography and...

When a trademark application is published, approval isn’t guaranteed. During this public review window, third parties with legitimate interests can oppose the registration if they...

Registering a trademark in the U.S. typically takes about a year, but delays are common and often misunderstood. From USPTO examination queues to Office Actions...