{"id":5079,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:54","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/what-happens-after-you-file-your-application.html"},"modified":"2024-05-22T02:41:04","modified_gmt":"2024-05-22T07:41:04","slug":"what-happens-after-you-file-your-application","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/what-happens-after-you-file-your-application.html","title":{"rendered":"Filing Your Trademark Application: What Happens Next?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30  wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-section-main fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\">\n        <h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Filing Your Trademark Application: What Happens Next?<\/h1>\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/taylar-simone-mccants-j-d\/\">Taylar-Simone McCants, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/amber-sheppard-esq\/\">Amber Sheppard, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            May 22, 2024\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-editorial-note fl-text-sm\">\n            <p>Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n<p>Let&#8217;s say you are a small business owner, entrepreneur, or startup filing its first trademark application. You have completed all the application steps and paid the required application fees. Congratulations! Now, you may be wondering, &quot;What happens next?&quot;<\/p>\r\n<p>Your brand is vitally important to your business. Otherwise, you wouldn&#8217;t have put much effort into\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/how-to-register-a-trademark-with-the-uspto-faq.html\">protecting your trademarks through registration<\/a>\u00a0with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uspto.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)<\/a>. You want to have exclusive rights to your brand name or business name. So, what happens after you file your application? The following list will help you understand the registration process after filing:<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a  href=\"#Application-Arrival\">What happens when my application arrives at the USPTO?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a  href=\"#Examiners\">What are examiners doing while I&#8217;m waiting?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a  href=\"#Objections\">What if somebody objects?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a  href=\"#Rejection\">What if the USPTO examiner rejects my application?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a  href=\"#Other-Concerns\">Are there other types of intellectual property concerns?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a  href=\"#Hire-an-Attorney\">How do I hire an intellectual property attorney?<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p>See\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/registering-a-trademark.html\">Registering a Trademark<\/a>\u00a0if you still need to file your registration.<\/p>\r\n<h2><a id=\"Application-Arrival\"><\/a>What happens when my application arrives at the USPTO?<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>The United States Patent and Trademark Office gives each application a number upon receipt.<\/li>\r\n<li>A USPTO clerk reviews\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/what-is-included-in-the-application.html\">the materials you have sent<\/a>\u00a0to ensure you have included all the required items like the filing fee, logo drawings, and specimen of use.<\/li>\r\n<li>The USPTO then classifies the application. Your goods or services determine the classification. The application is then put into one of the 45 appropriate categories according to its classification system.<\/li>\r\n<li>The clerk sends you a receipt acknowledging that the USPTO received your filing.<\/li>\r\n<li>You might not hear anything from the USPTO for up to eight months. The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uspto.gov\/trademarks\/apply\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">waiting time is posted on their website<\/a>, so you will know what batch of applications they are working on. The entire application process for most trademark applications takes 13- 18 months.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><a id=\"Examiners\"><\/a>What are examiners doing while I&#8217;m waiting?<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>A trained examiner\u2014a lawyer working for the USPTO\u2014reviews your application and decides if it is complete and consistent.<\/li>\r\n<li>The examiner determines if your mark\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/the-likelihood-of-confusion-test.html\">qualifies for trademark registration<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n<li>The examiner determines if your mark contains common or generic words. These are not allowed under trademark law, so you cannot claim it as your own.<\/li>\r\n<li>If the examiner determines the application has problems, they will ask you to provide corrections. You will receive a take action notice with a deadline for you to respond. Failure to respond will result in your application&#8217;s rejection.<\/li>\r\n<li>If your application is sufficient, the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.uspto.gov\/learning-and-resources\/official-gazette\/trademark-official-gazette-tmog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">USPTO&#8217;s\u00a0<i>Official Gazette<\/i><\/a>\u00a0will publish a Notice of Opposition.<\/li>\r\n<li>The USPTO waits to see whether anybody objects to your application.<\/li>\r\n<li>If nobody objects within the allowed time and you&#8217;ve already used the mark, the USPTO will register the mark. If you did not start using the mark, the application will be registered once you establish its use. This is done through a Statement of Use form.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><a id=\"Objections\"><\/a>What if somebody objects?<\/h2>\r\n<p>If someone objects, you will receive an office action. An office action is a written communication from the USPTO that raises objections and requires clarifications or amendments to the application.<\/p>\r\n<p>If somebody\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/proving-infringement-confusing-similarity.html\">objects to your mark<\/a>, you&#8217;ll need to hire a trademark lawyer to help you get the mark registered. The lawyer can also help you resolve a dispute with the entity that objected to your application.<\/p>\r\n<h2><a name=\"Rejection\" id=\"Rejection\"><\/a>What if the USPTO examiner rejects my application?<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>An examining lawyer points out problems relating to the form of the application, such as how precisely you have described the mark or whether your drawings are adequate. The form will instruct you about what your response must contain.<\/li>\r\n<li>The rejection form will tell you how long you have to respond. If you don&#8217;t respond on time, the USPTO will conclude that you have abandoned the application. At this point, you will have to start over.<\/li>\r\n<li>If the examiner rejects your application for a substantive reason, such as a determination that your mark is confusingly similar to somebody else&#8217;s or that it is merely descriptive, you will want to consult with your trademark lawyer before responding.<\/li>\r\n<li>A substantive rejection may indicate that there may be an adversarial dispute about your mark. Again, you will want to consult with your trademark lawyer.<\/li>\r\n<li>The USPTO may then rule on the application and reject it. Your attorney can help you decide whether to appeal this ruling and where you should present your appeal. You can appeal to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uspto.gov\/trademarks\/ttab\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB)<\/a>\u00a0or file an action in federal court. Your lawyer will explain the advantages and disadvantages of each option and tell you what to expect. If your first appeal is unsuccessful, your lawyer can advise you of your options.<\/li>\r\n<li>You can register your mark on another list, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uspto.gov\/trademarks\/laws\/how-amend-principal-supplemental-register\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Supplemental Register<\/a>. This is available if the USPTO denied you based on a merely descriptive mark. After five years, you can ask to have the mark moved to the Principal Register. You can also request to have the mark moved if you can establish that it has acquired a secondary meaning. When people see it or hear it, they think of your product.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><a id=\"Other-Concerns\"><\/a>Are there other types of intellectual property concerns?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Once you have your registered trademark, you may realize you need other IP protection forms. It&#8217;s a good practice to have employees, partners, or investors sign a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/business-contracts-forms\/what-is-a-non-disclosure-agreement-nda.html\">non-disclosure agreement<\/a>\u00a0if you are going to discuss\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/protecting-trade-secrets.html\">trade secrets<\/a>\u00a0with them. This helps keep your ideas and products out of the public domain.<\/p>\r\n<p>Artists, authors, and software engineers may want\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/copyrights.html\">copyright protection<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<p>If you are an inventor, you may need\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/nature-of-patent-and-patent-rights.html\">patent protection<\/a>. You must complete a patent application with the USPTO to receive patent protection. As a first-time patent applicant, there are many things to remember. There are many types of patents. You may need a plant patent, utility patent, or design patent. A utility patent grant is for inventors of new and useful processes, machines, articles of manufactures, or compositions of matter. The patent application process is confusing.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/patents\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Find a patent attorney<\/a>\u00a0for legal assistance. They can help with the application filing and the patent search and explain the additional fees associated with the process.<\/p>\r\n<h2><a id=\"Hire-an-Attorney\"><\/a>How do I hire an intellectual property attorney?<\/h2>\r\n<p>Intellectual property rights can be quite complex. Some people need legal representation when filing for intellectual property protection, like trademark protection. Contact an <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/intellectual-property-law\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">intellectual property attorney<\/a> for legal advice about your application,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/protecting-trade-secrets.html\">trade secrets<\/a>, or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/what-is-copyright.html\/\">copyright protection.<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p>Visit FindLaw&#8217;s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/intellectual-property\/trademarks.html?fli=dcta\">Trademarks<\/a>\u00a0section for more articles and helpful resources about trademark rights.<\/p>\r\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                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19.7769 19.28 19.3L20.66 10.3C20.7035 10.0134 20.6842 9.72068 20.6033 9.44225C20.5225 9.16382 20.3821 8.90629 20.1919 8.68751C20.0016 8.46873 19.7661 8.29393 19.5016 8.17522C19.2371 8.0565 18.9499 7.99672 18.66 8H13Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\n                              stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path>\n                    <\/g>\n                    <defs>\n                        <clipPath id=\"clip0_604_3418\">\n                            <rect width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"white\"><\/rect>\n                        <\/clipPath>\n                    <\/defs>\n                <\/svg>\n            <\/i>\n        <\/button>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"No\"\n                value=\"no\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">No<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-down\" clip-path=\"url(#clip0_604_3423)\">\n                        <path id=\"Vector\"\n                              d=\"M16 0.999995H18.67C19.236 0.989986 19.7859 1.18813 20.2154 1.55681C20.645 1.9255 20.9242 2.43905 21 3V10C20.9242 10.5609 20.645 11.0745 20.2154 11.4432C19.7859 11.8119 19.236 12.01 18.67 12H16M9.00003 14V18C9.00003 18.7956 9.3161 19.5587 9.87871 20.1213C10.4413 20.6839 11.2044 21 12 21L16 12V0.999995H4.72003C4.2377 0.994543 3.76965 1.16359 3.40212 1.47599C3.0346 1.78839 2.79235 2.22309 2.72003 2.7L1.34003 11.7C1.29652 11.9866 1.31586 12.2793 1.39669 12.5577C1.47753 12.8362 1.61793 13.0937 1.80817 13.3125C1.99842 13.5313 2.23395 13.7061 2.49846 13.8248C2.76297 13.9435 3.05012 14.0033 3.34003 14H9.00003Z\"\n                              stroke=\"#666666\" 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