Registering a trademark is crucial for protecting your brand. In the United States, trademark registration is handled by the Trademark Center of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
The Trademark Center allows you to file new trademark applications, pay associated fees, and track the progress of your application.
To access online forms and the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), you’ll need a USPTO.gov account with two-step authentication and identity verification. Identity verification is required for all USPTO.gov account users who wish to file trademark applications. For most users, this one-time verification can be completed online in under 15 minutes. The USPTO also offers a paper-based verification process for those who prefer not to verify online.
Before starting the registration process, familiarize yourself with trademark basics to avoid costly mistakes that can impact your legal rights. The USPTO provides resources to help you understand the trademark registration process.
The USPTO offers various forms for trademark registration and management. These forms are categorized by function, including: initial application forms, response forms, intent-to-use forms, post-allowance/publication amendment forms, correspondence and domestic representative forms, petition forms, cancellation or opposition forms, other forms, maintenance/renewal/correction forms, assignment forms, and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board forms.
You can check current processing times for trademark applications on the USPTO website. Accurate filing of applications, responses, and post-registration filings can expedite processing.
The Trademark Center and TEAS have specific operating schedules. Check the current server status and planned outage schedule before filing. Eastern Time is used to determine if your TEAS application is timely filed.
Most filings submitted through TEAS will be uploaded to the USPTO’s Trademark Status and Document Retrieval (TSDR) system within four to five business days. If your filing doesn’t appear after this time, contact the Trademark Assistance Center.
