How to File a Trademark
| Hi, I’m Mat Grell- U.S. Patent Attorney and Founder of the Inventor Start Kit. ™ Thank you for visiting my blog! Here, you will learn everything you ever needed to know about patents, trademarks, copyrights, market research, and intellectual property. Please contact me if you have any additional questions. |
Follow these simple steps to File a Trademark:
1. Perform a thorough Trademark Search & Evaluation
2. Perform Market Research
3. Gather detailed contact information of the owners or the entity filing (state of incorporation) to be listed on the trademark application
4. Find a patent attorney
5. Schedule a meeting with your patent attorney (or teleconference)
6. Make copies of all documents (TS and Mkt./RS)
7. Bring samples of your product/service
8. Bring a sample of the mark in use. If a graphic, provide an electronic copy of the mark in JPEG format without any use of the ‘TM’ symbol
9. Provide a goods and services definition of the product/services you plan to market
10. Provide dates of first use (use anywhere and use across state lines)
11. If your trademark is currently in use provide a specimen such as advertising, brochures, leaflets, labels, packaging, or web pages showing the mark in use.

Agenda for meeting with your patent attorney
1. Provide an overview of your mark and the product/service identified by the mark and determine whether Intent to use or Use application
2. Discuss each word used to define your product/service offering for relevance (preliminary goods/services definition)
3. Confirm what the mark consists of either text or graphic or a combination
4. Assign tasks and dates of completion
Decide whether you are proceeding with an engagement agreement with your patent attorney.


