Find the Right Trademark Expert for You & Get Affordable Online Legal Advice

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Trademark basics

A trademark is a form of intellectual property that protects brand names, taglines and logos used on goods and services. Logos are considered Design Marks while plain text names and taglines are considered Word Marks.

Securing trademarks for your brand gives you the exclusive rights to conduct business under your brand name in a particular class of goods.
Trademarks provide legal protection against counterfeiting.
If you’re trying to protect a book or song you’ve written, computer software your company has developed or other original works of authorship, you need a copyright, not a trademark. Learn more about copyright law here.

If you’re not sure which type of protection you need, visit our general intellectual property page.

What does a trademark lawyer do?

In the United States, as soon as you sell goods or services under a specific brand name, before anyone else, you own the trademark automatically. However, there are several important reasons you should formally register your mark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Common services that trademark lawyers provide:

Developing intellectual property strategy
Conducting name searches
Preparing and filing your trademark application(s)
Defending your application(s) during the approval process
Going after anyone who violates your trademark
Defending you if you violate someone else’s trademark

While there are areas of law you might be able to handle yourself with the help of a generic form downloaded from the internet, trademark law is not one of those areas. The USPTO.gov website expressly states that the trademark registration process can be tricky and complicated and that you should hire an lawyer to help you.

There’s an easy and affordable solution, a Small Business Plan from LegalShield.

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How much does a trademark lawyer cost?

Most intellectual property lawyers charge $150-$400 per hour.
An experienced trademark lawyer typically charges a flat fee of $1,250-$2,000 for a basic filing.

However, if there are any disputes that need to be resolved, violations that need to be handled or other legal work beyond the basic filing tasks, you’ll have to pay their standard hourly rate.

If you have a Small Business Plan from LegalShield, you can register your trademark yourself (for the cost of federal filing fees) and complete the registration process with a trademark lawyer by your side. They’ll answer questions, provide guidance and review your registration documents before you file them, all for a fraction of typical lawyer fees.

How LegalShield works

Finding solutions to your legal issues doesn’t have to be stressful, complicated or expensive. LegalShield puts the power of legal representation within reach of any individual, family, or business. We work hard to make it easy, simple, and affordable to get the legal help you need, when you need it.

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