Is it worth trademarking a phrase?

Asked by: Delmer Cummings  |  Last update: June 15, 2026
Score: 4.9/5 (59 votes)

Yes, trademarking a memorable phrase is generally worth it to protect your brand, prevent consumer confusion, and establish exclusive rights, but its value depends on the phrase's distinctiveness, usage in commerce, and your budget, as common phrases are harder to protect and enforcement requires resources. It solidifies ownership for slogans like "Just Do It," turning them into valuable assets, but you need strong distinctiveness beyond mere description, often with logo combinations, and must be prepared for costs and potential legal battles.

Should I trademark a phrase?

If you created a catchy word or phrase and want it to identify your product, service, or business, then trademark, not copyright, is the relevant tool. Copyright generally doesn't protect short phrases at all.

Can you make money by trademarking a phrase?

Is it really possible to make real money with trademarks? Of course it is! You can ask the owner of the phrase “Let's get Ready to Rumble” who has made well over $400 million in licensing revenue according to ABC. And there are countless other companies, brands, and entrepreneurs that profit from trademarks.

How much is it to trademark a catchphrase?

The cost to trademark a phrase is between from $250 to $350 per trademark class. This is the cost to submit your trademark application to the USPTO. The easiest way to submit an application to register your trademark is online, through the USPTO's Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS).

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.

How to Trademark a Phrase

43 related questions found

What is the rule 37 of trademarks?

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 word did Kim Kardashian try to trademark?

Kim Kardashian is again brewing up a social media storm – this time over her application to trade mark the word “Kimono” for her new range of shapewear.

Is it better to trademark or LLC?

An LLC protects personal assets from business liabilities (legal structure), while a trademark protects brand identity like names, logos, and slogans from copycats (intellectual property); they serve different roles, with an LLC forming the business foundation and a trademark safeguarding its brand, often used together for comprehensive business protection. Forming the LLC first offers a legal entity, but registering the trademark first secures brand rights earlier, with many recommending an availability search before either.
 

Do I need a lawyer for trademarking?

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.

How hard is it to trademark a saying?

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.

What is stronger, TM or R?

Legal Protection: The ® symbol provides stronger legal protection than ™. It gives you the right to sue for trademark infringement if someone else tries to use your registered trademark without permission.

How long does it take to trademark a phrase?

While there are ways to expedite the trademark registration process, you should count on about 10-18 months to have your trademark approved.

What happens when someone trademarks a phrase?

Registering a trademark grants you: Exclusive rights: Your phrase becomes your intellectual property. Legal protection: You can file a trademark infringement lawsuit if someone uses it without permission. Brand security: Competitors cannot legally adopt your slogan.

What is the 3 month rule for copyright?

The "copyright 3 month rule" in the U.S. refers to a key deadline for copyright owners: registering their work with the U.S. Copyright Office within three months of its first publication makes them eligible for significant benefits, including statutory damages and attorney's fees in infringement lawsuits, a remedy not available if registration occurs after infringement begins (unless within that three-month window). It's a strong incentive to register early, though copyright protection exists automatically upon creation, this timely registration unlocks powerful legal remedies.
 

How long does a trademark last?

How long do trademarks last? The length of a federal trademark registration term is 10 years, but trademarks can potentially last indefinitely. Unlike patents and copyrights, trademarks do not expire after a set period of time.

Can someone steal my logo if it's not trademarked?

If your logo is registered with the USPTO (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office), you have a strong legal foundation to stop others from using it. But even without registration, you may still have common law rights if you've been using the logo consistently in commerce.

Do I need an LLC to trademark a name?

You do not need to own an LLC to file a trademark. However, file for an LLC first can give you two distinct advantages. The first advantage is some degree of privacy. The second benefit is foregoing the need to assign a trademark to your company.

Is it better to patent or trademark?

Purpose: Patents protect inventions, while trademarks protect brand names, logos, and other identifying factors. Granting Authority: The government grants patents to inventors, while businesses use trademarks to identify and distinguish their goods or services.

What are the disadvantages of a trademark?

Some of these disadvantages include that:

  • you cannot alter trade mark classes;
  • litigation can be difficult;
  • trade marks require renewal every 10 years;
  • there are limitations to what your trade mark protects; and.
  • your trade mark is at risk of becoming genericised.

What names to avoid for LLC?

You should avoid LLC names that are misleading, include restricted words like "bank" or "insurance" (unless licensed), contain offensive language or suggest illegal activity, are too similar to existing trademarks, imply professional licensing you don't have (like "CPA"), or use overused clichés (like "Apex" or "Pinnacle"). Always check your state's specific rules and ensure the name isn't already registered or trademarked. 

What comes first, LLC or trademark?

For most businesses, form your LLC first, then trademark, because the LLC becomes the legal owner of the trademark, providing asset protection and official business status, but it's wise to do a trademark search before finalizing your LLC name to avoid conflicts and costly rebranding later. Forming the LLC first establishes the entity that will own the mark, simplifying ownership, but checking name availability before formation prevents issues where your chosen business name is already trademarked.
 

Who is richer, Kim or Kylie?

Kim Kardashian is significantly richer than Kylie Jenner, with Kim's net worth estimated around $1.9 billion thanks to her SKIMS brand, compared to Kylie's roughly $670-$710 million from Kylie Cosmetics and other ventures, making Kim the wealthiest of the Kardashian-Jenner siblings as of early 2026.
 

What words cannot be trademarked?

Descriptiveness / lack of distinctiveness: Terms that literally describe items as they are ("tomato," "beer," "copper" or any other common word) cannot be trademarked as they must be reserved for general use. Similarly, marks that fail to indicate a particular commercial enterprise to consumers will not be registered.

What is Kim Kardashian diagnosed with?

Kim Kardashian was diagnosed with a small brain aneurysm, revealed on her show The Kardashians, with doctors suggesting it might be stress-related due to her law studies; further scans showed "low activity" in her frontal lobe, but she's monitoring it, and she's also known to have psoriasis, an autoimmune skin condition.