Frequently asked questions
Everything clients ask before hiring us.
Grouped by topic, answered without legal jargon. If your question is not here, write to us — a straight answer costs you nothing.
Costs and what is included
What exactly is included in the flat fee?
The search, the legal opinion, drafting and filing the application, replies to routine office actions, and deadline monitoring until the certificate. What is not included: government fees, which we always list separately, and contested proceedings such as an opposition, which we quote on their own.
Why are official fees quoted separately?
Because they are not ours. The USPTO, the EUIPO and the Copyright Office set them, they change from time to time, and they depend on how many classes you file in. Bundling them into one number looks simpler but hides what you are actually paying for — and makes it impossible for you to compare quotes.
Do you charge by the hour for anything?
No. Every standard service on this site has a fixed price. Contested matters — oppositions, cancellations, disputes — are quoted as a fixed fee per phase, so you always know the cost of the next step before you take it.
When do I pay?
After you approve the written quote and before we file. Government fees are paid at the same time, since the office requires them at filing. We accept international bank transfer and card.
Do you offer a refund if the application is refused?
Official fees are never refundable — that is the office's rule, not ours. What we do instead is tell you before filing when we think the risk is high, and handle routine refusals inside the flat fee. We would rather talk you out of a weak filing than refund one.
Timelines and procedure
How long does the whole process take?
We file within three business days of your approval. The USPTO usually issues the registration nine to fourteen months later. Your priority, though, is fixed on the filing date, so you are protected from day one.
What do you need from me to start?
The name, the logo file if you want to protect the design too, a short description of what you sell, and the legal name and address of the owner — a company or a person. That is enough for the search. Nothing needs to be notarised or legalised.
Can I speed the process up?
Filing quickly is the part you control, and we do that in three days. Examination speed is set by the office and cannot be bought. What matters is that your rights run from the filing date, so being early is what protects you — not being fast at the end.
How do I know what is happening with my file?
We email you at every official step, and U.S. files are public — we send you the application number so you can look it up on the USPTO database yourself, at any moment, without asking us.
Filing from outside the United States
Do I need to be based in the United States?
No. You can be anywhere. Since 2019 every applicant based outside the U.S. must be represented by a licensed U.S. attorney before the USPTO — that requirement is the reason most of our clients come to us in the first place.
Do I need a U.S. company or address?
No. You can own a U.S. trademark as a foreign company or as an individual, with your own address. Setting up a U.S. entity may make sense for tax or commercial reasons, but it is not required to register or to own a trademark.
I already have an EU trademark. Does it cover the U.S.?
It does not. Rights are territorial. An existing EU registration can, however, be used as the basis for an international extension through the Madrid System, which is sometimes cheaper than filing separately — and sometimes worse, because it stays tied to the original registration for five years. We will tell you which route fits your case.
Which languages do you work in?
English, Italian, Spanish, German and Chinese. You write in the language you are comfortable with; the filings themselves are made in the official language of the office.
After registration
How long does a trademark last?
Indefinitely, as long as you renew it and keep using it. In the United States you also have to file a declaration of use between the fifth and sixth year — miss it and the registration is cancelled, no matter how well the business is going. We track that date for our clients and warn them in advance.
Someone filed my brand name before me. Is it over?
Not necessarily. Depending on the country and on how long you have been using the name, there may be grounds to oppose, to cancel a bad-faith filing, or to negotiate. It is a case-by-case assessment and the first thing we do is tell you honestly how strong your position is.
Can you also watch for copycats?
Yes. We can set up a watch on new applications similar to yours and monitor the main marketplaces, so you hear about a conflict while there is still time to oppose rather than after the mark has been registered.
Can you take over a file another firm started?
Yes, and it is common. We review what has been filed, tell you where it stands and what it is missing, then take over the representation. The transfer itself is a formality and does not restart the procedure.
Next step
Still unsure? Ask us the question directly.
A first assessment is free and costs you one email. You get a written answer within one business day.