Brand Protection

Problems We Solve

• —A competitor has launched with a name, logo, or packaging that looks like yours
• —You've been building a brand for years without registered trademark protection
• —Someone is using your images, copy, or creative work without permission
• —Your brand has grown internationally but your IP protection hasn't
• —A former employee or partner is using your brand assets without authorization

Comprehensive trademark clearance searches before you launch

USPTO trademark registration for names, logos, and slogans

Trade dress registration for distinctive visual brand elements

International trademark filing through the Madrid Protocol

Copyright registration for original creative works

Cease and desist letters and DMCA takedowns for infringement

Licensing agreements that generate revenue while protecting brand quality

Q.When should I file a trademark application?

As early as possible — ideally before you launch. Trademark rights in the U.S. are based on first use, but federal registration provides nationwide priority from the filing date. Waiting until your brand has value means waiting until someone else has motivation to copy it.

Q.What can and cannot be trademarked?

Names, logos, slogans, and even sounds and colors can be trademarked if they are distinctive and function as source identifiers. Descriptive terms, geographic names, and generic words generally cannot be registered without evidence of acquired distinctiveness. We conduct clearance searches to assess the registrability of your mark before filing.

Q.How long does trademark registration take?

USPTO trademark registration currently takes 12–18 months in straightforward cases. International filings through the Madrid Protocol vary by country. We file applications with the strongest possible specifications to reduce the risk of office actions that extend the timeline.

Q.What is trade dress and how is it different from a trademark?

Trade dress protects the overall visual appearance of a product or business — the design of a restaurant interior, the shape of a bottle, the color scheme of packaging — when that appearance identifies the source of the goods or services. It can be registered or protected under common law, and it is often as valuable as the name itself.

Q.What happens if someone is infringing my trademark?

The first step is usually a cease and desist letter, which formally puts the infringer on notice and demands they stop. If the infringement continues, the options escalate to UDRP proceedings for domain names, federal litigation, and requests for injunctive relief and damages. Early action typically leads to faster and less expensive resolution.