How much does it cost to trademark a phrase?
Asked by: scraper | Last update: September 4, 2026Score: 0/5 (0 votes)
Registering a phrase as a trademark with the USPTO costs $350 per class of goods or services. However, total costs vary based on your filing route, ranging from $350 for a DIY application to $1,000–$5,000+ if you hire an attorney.
Is it worth it to trademark a phrase?
If you want to ensure your phrase is inherently linked to your brand and business, it is definitely worth the effort to invest in a trademark registration to protect your rights to your awesome catchphrase. (Think of the t-shirts you can potentially sell!)
How much does trademarking a phrase cost?
Whatever the Cost, Seek Legal Assistance
The total cost to trademark a phrase typically ranges from $1,000 to $5,000 for a straightforward federal registration in one class, including attorney services and USPTO fees, though complex situations involving multiple classes or international protection can exceed $10,000.
How hard is it to trademark a phrase?
Trademarking a common phrase can be challenging, as trademark law generally aims to protect distinctive and unique marks that can differentiate goods or services in the marketplace. Common phrases that are widely used and lack distinctiveness may be considered too generic to qualify for trademark protection.
How do you legally coin a phrase?
You cannot formally coin a phrase to give you exclusive ownership of the words themselves for everyday use. However, if you are using an original phrase as a slogan or tagline to promote your business or product, you can protect it legally by securing a trademark.
How Much Does it Cost to Trademark a Name or Logo? | Register A Trademark
Can you make money off trademarking a phrase?
Once you've come up with a creative name, logo, and slogan and they are federally registered, you now are ready to monetize your trademarks. Options include: Licensing your trademark and allowing another company to use it for particular goods and services. Trademark licensing is fairly common.
What phrases can you not trademark?
What Words Cannot Be Trademarked?
- Generic Terms. (Example: “Coffee” for a coffee shop) ...
- Descriptive Terms Without Distinctiveness. (Example: “Best Miami Plumber”) ...
- Geographically Descriptive Names. (Example: “Orlando Roofing Services”) ...
- Surnames (Last Names) (Example: “Johnson Plumbing”) ...
- Common Phrases or Industry Terms.
What is the 5 year rule for trademarks?
Once a trademark registration is more than five years old it becomes more difficult to invalidate the trademark rights. If the registration is less than five years old, the party challenging the trademark rights can rely on any ground that could have prevented registration initially.
Which is better, TM or R?
The R (®) symbol is definitively "better" because it indicates your trademark is officially registered with the government (such as the USPTO in the US). While the TM (™) symbol is helpful for claiming an unregistered mark and putting others on notice, it lacks the strong, federally protected legal rights that come with registration.
Do I need a lawyer to trademark a phrase?
Do You Need to Hire an Attorney to Federally Register a Trademark? No. You do not need an attorney to file an application for registration of a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). That being said, you really ought to hire an attorney if you can afford one.
What happens if I trademark a phrase?
A trademark protects the name, word, phrase, or symbol that helps people identify where a product or service comes from. It gives you the exclusive right to use that specific name in connection with what you offer.
What are common trademark mistakes?
Failure to Consider Potential Scope of Use
A company often fails to consider the scope of use of the mark. The initial plan may be to use a proposed mark in connection with only one or a few products. But as the brand develops there may be a desire to expand the use to related or even unrelated products and services.
Is it better to get a TM or a copyright?
A trademark is more specific than copyright. It is designed to protect anything that identifies the goods, services and brand of a business. Trademarks protect elements such as a brand name, slogan and logo. Both copyright and trademark rights are territorial.
What names cannot be trademarked?
Non-trademarked names, or generic terms, are words that define a product or service category rather than a specific brand. Examples include "computer," "pizza," "coffee," or "bank". Unlike brand names, these cannot be exclusively owned because they are essential for public communication and competition.
What is the rule 37 of trademark?
Further, Rule 37 of Trade Marks Rules, 2017 states that an applicant for registration of a trademark may, whether before or after acceptance of his application but before the registration of the trademark, apply in Form TM-M accompanied by the prescribed fee for the correction of any error in or in connection with his ...
What are the disadvantages of a trademark?
This article will take you through 5 disadvantages of trade marks.
- Trade Mark Classes Cannot Be Altered. One key difficulty with trade marks is that you cannot alter trade mark classes. ...
- Difficulty with Litigation. ...
- Renewals. ...
- Protection Limitations. ...
- Risk of Being Genericised.
What is the most recognized trademark?
Famous trademarks achieve global recognition through consistency and intense brand loyalty. The most iconic include:
Can I put R on my logo without registering?
Strong legal rights arise only after registration. The ® symbol, on the other hand, can be used only for registered trademarks. Using ® without registration is illegal and will result in a hefty penalty. You may start using TM as soon as a brand name or logo is adopted.
Which is stronger, copyright or trademark?
Neither is "better" because they protect entirely different things; trademarks protect brand identity (names, logos, slogans) from consumer confusion, while copyrights protect original creative works (art, books, music, software). If you are protecting a brand, trademarks are superior; for creative content, copyright is the right tool.
Can you lose a trademark if you don't use it?
Not Using Your Trademark
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) considers a trademark abandoned if it's not used in commerce. There are some exceptions – such as temporary periods of non-use – but if you stop using your trademark in your business, the USPTO will cancel or expire your registration.
Did Taylor Swift trademark her name?
Yes, Taylor Swift has extensively trademarked her name. She first applied to trademark "Taylor Swift" in 2007 and has since secured dozens of trademarks protecting her full name, the name "Swift," and her signature across various merchandise categories (like clothing, jewelry, and instruments).
What are the 7 types of trademarks?
The seven types of trademarks are Product Mark, Service Mark, Collective Mark, Certification Mark, Shape Mark, Pattern Mark, and Sound Mark. Each type serves to protect unique aspects of a brand or product.
Can a single word be trademarked?
Yes, you can register your word brand as a trademark in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, provided it meets the statutory requirements for a registration. A single word can be a trademark.
Who is famous for their trademark catchphrase?
While some celebrities have secured trademarks for their catchphrases, such as Lizzo's “100% that b---h”, Mr McConaughey is thought to be the first to secure a broad trademark of himself.
What are the three things not protected by copyright?
Under U.S. copyright law, copyright protects the specific expression of a work but does not extend to its foundational elements, functional uses, or publicly available information. Three prominent categories of items that are not protected by copyright are: