How to Register a Trademark in Maryland

Introduction

Trademark registration is one of the most important steps in protecting your business. If you register your trademark in Maryland, it’ll give you the right to use it exclusively on or in connection with any goods or services. It also allows you to use the symbol ® after your mark, which tells others that you have claimed ownership of that mark.

Trademark Basics

Trademarks are valuable assets for businesses. They can be used to identify your goods and services and help consumers distinguish between your products and those of other companies. Trademarks also give you the right to prevent others from using your mark in certain ways, such as selling counterfeit versions of your product or services. If a trademark is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), it will last indefinitely as long as it is renewed every 10 years after its initial registration date, and no one else can use it without permission from the owner of the mark after registration has occurred.

Find out if your Trademark is Available

The first step to register your trademark in Maryland is to make sure it’s available for use in commerce. You can check the USPTO website to see if the trademark you want to register is already in use by someone else.

You should also check these resources:

• Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS)
• Trademark Status & Document Retrieval (TSDR)
• Trademark Official Gazette

Prepare and File your Application

The application process may be done either online or on paper. If you choose to file online, the cost is less than if you file in person at a government office.

You can file your application on paper by mail or in person at the USPTO website. You will need to include:

• A completed application form
• The correct fee(s) for filing your application
• The correct fee(s) for registering your mark, depending on where and how it will be used

Respond to Office Actions

The USPTO also sends a nonfinal refusal, which is sent to you by mail. This means that the examiner isn’t sure if your trademark can even be registered or if it has any conflicts. You need to respond to both office actions and nonfinal refusals before you can get final approval.

Respond to office actions online or by using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS). You should always include all information requested in the Office Action or Non-Final Rejection so that they will have all of the necessary information needed in order for them to make a decision on whether your application should be accepted or denied.

Finalize and Advertise your Registration

Next, you must finalize your registration. You may do so by paying a fee and completing the Notice of Publication form. You can also renew your registration via this method, but it will require additional fees each time you do so. If you have filed a foreign application for your mark and wish to file an extension of time, now is the best time to do so as well.

Renew Your TM Registration

If you want to renew your TM registration, here’s what you need to do:

• At this time, the Maryland Secretary of State’s office does not offer an online renewal option for Trademark registrations. However, it is possible that such an option will be added in the future, so we recommend checking back periodically if this is something important to you. If so, please bookmark our page and return it as soon as possible!
• Paper Form Application (Form TR-106). To complete a paper form application for renewal of your trademark registration, download and print the appropriate form from their website.

Conclusion

You’ve made it through all the steps to register your trademark in Maryland. If you have any further queries, feel free to contact us. Our experienced professionals would be happy to help.