What are the steps involved in the trademark registration process?
In the United States, you first need to determine if your product or service qualifies for a mark. If the mark is for a product, it must appear on the product itself, its container or display, and it must be sold or transported in commerce. If the mark is for a service, it must be used or displayed in the sale or advertising of the service and must be rendered in commerce. If it does, then you should conduct a trademark search covering the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database and other databases to make sure no one else has already made a claim on the mark. Finally, you need to register the mark. You can do this using an online application system known as the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS). It is advisable to have legal counsel throughout this process as it is complex and once your application is filed and under examination, you may have questions.
