How to Register a Trademark for Financial

Introduction

Trademark registration is an important part of protecting your brand. It can also play an important part in your overall business strategy. Whether you’re setting up a new company or simply making sure that your existing brand is protected, trademark registration is an essential part of any business owner’s arsenal.

Research to Make Sure the Mark Isn’t Already in Use

You should investigate whether the mark is already being used. The first place to search is the USPTO database of registered trademarks and pending applications. Here, you can see a list of all marks that have been registered or applied for in the United States since 1880 (and even earlier). If your proposed mark contains certain words or phrases, then it should be listed here—but if it doesn’t appear on this list, that doesn’t mean that someone else hasn’t registered a similar mark somewhere else in the world!

The next step is to use TESS to search through existing federal registrations and pending applications; this system also allows you to search state trademark databases as well as several international registries that are part of Madrid Protocol treaties (for example African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), Asian & Pacific Trade Mark Association (APTMA), Benelux Office For Intellectual Property & Licensing Management Co., Ltd.(BOIPELC), European Union Intellectual Property Office(EUIPO)). The easiest way to do this is by using a third-party website because they’ll automatically run your search through these different databases.

Seek Assistance From a Trademark Attorney

If you’re not sure if you need to hire a trademark lawyer, there are some questions you can ask yourself before deciding.

• Is your business making money? If so, then it’s probably time to hire an attorney.
• Are there any potential competitors that could hurt your sales or reputation? If so, then it’s probably time to hire an attorney.
• Do you want to grow your business over multiple states or countries? If so, then it’s probably time to hire an attorney.

If at least one of these questions applies to your situation and would like advice on how much this might cost and what type of legal services are available through lawyers who specialize in trademarks (and even how much they charge), we recommend that you contact us today!

File an Intent to Use (ITU) Application

If you’ve tried to register a trademark and found that it was too similar to another registered mark, or if the mark is being used by someone else who isn’t related to your company, you’ll need to file an intent-to-use (ITU) application. An ITU application is the first step in registering a trademark and allows you to use a proposed trademark on goods and services before registration.

• What is an Intent To Use (ITU) Application?

An ITU application is filed after you’ve determined that you want to use a proposed trademark on goods or services in commerce. You cannot file an ITU application until your proposed mark has been approved by the USPTO as not conflicting with other existing marks and meets all other legal requirements set forth in federal regulations.

• How Much Does It Cost To File An Intent To Use (ITU) Application?

The cost of filing an intent-to-use application differs depending on whether it’s for word marks or design marks; however, both types generally cost between $800-$1,000 per class of goods or services listed in the notice of allowance once accepted by the USPTO.

• What Are The Benefits Of Filing An Intent To Use Application?

If approved by the U.S Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), your mark will be published for opposition purposes which gives competitors time within 6 months before registration can begin.

File a Standard Application

The next step is to file a standard application. This costs $275 and can be filed online or via mail (the latter of which requires you to provide an exact copy of your mark and requires payment by check or money order). A standard application takes about 9 months for the USPTO to process, but once it’s approved, you’ll receive a registration certificate that shows the date when your trademark was first registered.

The most important part of this process is making sure you actually have a trademark before going through all this trouble! If it turns out that someone else owns some kind of similar trademark already (for example, another business has already claimed ownership over something called “Financial”), then your application will be denied outright. It’s also important not to miss any deadlines along the way—if you don’t respond within certain time frames after receiving reminders from the USPTO, they’ll cancel your request without refunding any fees!

Pay Fees and Monitor Progress

Once your trademark is approved, you must pay a filing fee. After that, you will receive a serial number and filing date, which are used to mark the day your trademark application was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

There are three different types of fees associated with registering trademarks:

• Basic Filing Fee – $225 USD for up to 3 classes of goods or services
• Supplemental Filing Fee – $100 USD for each additional class of goods or services
• CTE Fee – $100 USD per class if there is an issue in relation to an expired trademark registration

Takeaway:

If you become a trademark owner, you can use it to protect your brand. You can also enforce the trademark against other people who are using it. In some situations, you might be able to license your mark to another company and receive royalties in return.

Conclusion

Registering a trademark for financial services is a great way to protect your brand and identity. However, it can be a complicated process that requires some research and planning. If you’re interested in getting started with this process or want more information about how to go about registering your own trademarks, please contact us today!