For answers to frequently asked questions on trademark registration, click here (courtesy of the United States Patent and Trademark Office [USPTO]).
WHY SHOULD I REGISTER MY TRADEMARK?
Registering a trademark with the USPTO has the several benefits, including constructive notice of the trademark owner’s claim; evidence of ownership of the trademark; and the ability to enforce the trademark in federal court.
HAS A PARTICULAR NAME BEEN REGISTERED FOR A TRADEMARK?
To find out, a good place to start is to click here and then click on the USPTO Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS). Note: Using TESS, by itself, would not constitute a comprehensive trademark search to see if your mark conflicts with another mark as a complete search would involve reviewing similar marks as well as identical marks.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO REGISTER A TRADEMARK?
Depending on the issues involved in the registration, it could take almost a year to a few years to complete the registration of a trademark.