Protect Your Brand Before Someone Else

Our trademark monitoring service proactively monitors the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database through regular trademark searches to detect and notify you of potential trademark infringements.

Yes, you can add extra classes a la carte.

Standard turnaround is 7–14 business days. Fortress clients receive priority service (7 days).

An Office Action is an official letter from the USPTO explaining why your trademark application can't move forward yet. Think of it as the examiner saying "we need to discuss a few things before we can approve this." You typically have 6 months to respond, or your application dies.

A Substantive Office Action raises legal issues with your trademark itself. Common substantive issues include: Likelihood of confusion - Your mark is too similar to an existing registered trademark Merely descriptive - Your mark just describes your product/service (like "Fast Delivery" for a courier service) Geographically descriptive - Your mark is just a place name (like "California Wine") Generic terms - You're trying to trademark a common word for your industry Ornamental refusal - Your mark appears decorative rather than identifying your brand These responses require legal arguments and evidence to overcome. They're complex and typically need attorney expertise.

A Non-Substantive Office Action identifies technical or procedural issues that are straightforward to fix. Common non-substantive issues include: Specimen issues - The example you submitted doesn't properly show your mark in use Identification of goods/services - Your description needs to be more specific or use different wording Disclaimer required - You need to disclaim exclusive rights to a descriptive part of your mark Classification problems - Your goods/services are in the wrong category Minor technical corrections - Date format issues, missing information, or formatting problems These are generally easier to resolve, though you still need to respond correctly and within the deadline.

No, you're not legally required to hire an attorney to file a trademark application with the USPTO. However, most business owners hire an attorney because one mistake can permanently derail your application. The reality: The USPTO filing fee is $350 per class whether you DIY or hire help. But an attorney ensures proper clearance searches, correct classifications, appropriate specimens, and accurate descriptions - all things that commonly trip up DIY filers and lead to refusals. A rejected application means starting over, paying fees again, and losing months while competitors could file similar marks. Trademark protection is a long-term business asset. Investing in proper legal guidance upfront saves time, money, and headaches down the road.