Question 1

What is a trademark?

Accepted Answer

A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, or design that identifies and distinguishes your goods or services from competitors'. Defined under 15 U.S.C. §1127 (the Lanham Act). Registering it gives you enforceable, nationwide rights to that brand.

Question 2

Do I need to register my trademark?

Accepted Answer

While you gain some common-law rights by using a mark, federal registration provides much stronger protection, including nationwide priority, the right to use the ® symbol, legal presumption of ownership, and the ability to stop infringing imports at customs.

Question 3

How long does trademark registration take?

Accepted Answer

Timelines vary by country. United States: 8–12 months. European Union: 4–6 months. United Kingdom: 4–6 months. India: 12–24 months. China: 9–14 months. Canada: 24–30 months. These are averages for straightforward applications without objections.

Question 4

What's the difference between ™ and ®?

Accepted Answer

The ™ symbol can be used with any unregistered trademark to indicate a claim of rights. The ® symbol may only be used after your mark is officially registered with the relevant trademark office. Using ® without a registration can result in penalties.

Question 5

Can I trademark a name, logo, or slogan?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can register word marks (names, slogans), design marks (logos), and combined marks (name + logo together). Word marks offer the broadest protection for the name itself, while design marks protect the specific visual design.

Question 6

Should I trademark my business name or logo first?

Accepted Answer

If you can only file one, start with a word mark (your business name). Word marks provide broader protection because they cover the name in any font, color, or style. A logo (design mark) only protects the specific visual design as filed.

Question 7

What makes a strong trademark?

Accepted Answer

The strongest trademarks are fanciful (invented words like 'Kodak'), arbitrary (real words used in unrelated contexts like 'Apple' for computers), or suggestive. Descriptive marks are weak and hard to register. Generic terms cannot be trademarked.

Question 8

How much does trademark registration cost?

Accepted Answer

Every filing has three parts: our flat professional fee, the government fees set by the trademark office (for example, the USPTO charges $350 per class and the EUIPO €850 for the first class), and the bank fee (5% of the government fees). Each is shown as a separate line item on the pricing page and at checkout. Multi-country pricing is on the pricing page.

Question 9

Are government fees included in your pricing?

Accepted Answer

Government fees are separate from our professional fees and are clearly itemized at checkout. Government fees are paid directly to the trademark office (USPTO, EUIPO, etc.) and vary by country and number of classes. A 5% bank fee applies to government fees.

Question 10

Do you offer multi-country pricing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Multi-country pricing is on the pricing page. Pick the countries you want in one order and you see the professional fee and the government fee for each before you pay. Government fees are set by each trademark office and charged at cost.

Question 11

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), wire/bank transfer, and Payoneer. Payments are processed securely, and you receive banking details at checkout for wire transfers.

Question 12

Is there a money-back guarantee?

Accepted Answer

If we haven't yet filed your application, you can request a full refund. Once a filing has been submitted to a trademark office, government fees are non-refundable. Our service fee may be partially refundable depending on the work completed.

Question 13

Why do some countries cost more than others?

Accepted Answer

Costs vary due to different government fee structures, local attorney requirements (many countries require a local agent for owners based abroad), translation needs, and complexity of the examination process. Countries with mandatory local representation tend to cost more.

Question 14

What happens after I submit my order?

Accepted Answer

Our attorneys review your submission within 1–2 business days. We verify your mark details, select the optimal Nice classes, prepare the application, and file it with the relevant trademark office. You receive a filing confirmation with your application/serial number.

Question 15

What is an office action?

Accepted Answer

An office action is an official communication from the trademark examiner raising issues with your application. Common reasons include likelihood of confusion with an existing mark, descriptiveness, and specimen deficiencies. Our United States filing service includes handling non-substantive office actions. Substantive responses are a separate service: $200 to $475 depending on complexity, quoted per case.

Question 16

What is the Nice Classification?

Accepted Answer

The Nice Classification is an international system maintained by WIPO that organizes goods and services into 45 classes: 1–34 for goods, 35–45 for services. You must file in the correct class(es) for your mark to be protected.

Question 17

How long does a trademark last?

Accepted Answer

In most countries, a trademark registration lasts 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely for additional 10-year periods. In the United States, you must also file declarations of continued use (Section 8) between the 5th and 6th year after registration.

Question 18

What is a Statement of Use (SOU)?

Accepted Answer

In the United States, if you filed based on 'intent to use' (Section 1b), you must file a Statement of Use demonstrating actual use of the mark in commerce before the USPTO will issue the registration. You have 6 months to file, with extensions available.

Question 19

What is an opposition?

Accepted Answer

A trademark opposition is a legal proceeding where a third party challenges your application during the publication period, claiming your mark conflicts with their existing rights. In the United States, this is handled by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB).

Question 20

What is a specimen?

Accepted Answer

A specimen is evidence showing how your trademark is used in commerce. The USPTO requires a specimen with every application filed based on use in commerce (Section 1a) and with every Statement of Use (Section 1b). It must show the mark as consumers encounter it, not a mock-up.

Question 21

Should I file in my personal name or my business name?

Accepted Answer

File in the name of the entity that owns and controls the use of the mark. If you operate as a sole proprietor, file in your personal name. If you have an LLC or corporation, file under that entity. Filing under the wrong owner can create legal issues later.

Question 22

Can I file in multiple countries at once?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our platform supports filing worldwide. You can select multiple countries in one order and see the price for each before you pay. Multi-country pricing is on the pricing page.

Question 23

Do I need a local attorney for each country?

Accepted Answer

Many countries require owners based abroad to appoint a local representative, and this is included in our professional fee. Our in-house attorneys file in the United States, the European Union, China, and India, our team files directly in the United Kingdom and Canada, and elsewhere a qualified local attorney files, with GTC managing it end to end.

Question 24

Which countries should I file in first?

Accepted Answer

Start with countries where you currently sell or plan to sell. Also consider 'first-to-file' countries like China where trademark squatting is common. The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and China are common starting points for international brands.

Question 25

Is my US trademark valid in other countries?

Accepted Answer

No. Trademark rights are territorial. A registration in the United States only protects your mark there. For international protection, you need separate registrations in each country or region.

Question 26

What is the difference between first-to-file and first-to-use?

Accepted Answer

In first-to-file countries (China, Japan, South Korea), registration generally goes to whoever files first. In first-to-use countries (United States, India, Canada, Australia), prior commercial use can establish rights. The European Union and the United Kingdom grant rights on registration and still give some weight to earlier unregistered rights. Everywhere, a registration gives you the clearest rights to enforce.

Question 27

Can I claim priority from a filing in my home country?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Under the Paris Convention you have six months from your first filing to file the same mark in another member country and claim the earlier date. We add the priority claim at filing; you supply the home application number and date.

Question 28

Do you file for owners outside the United States?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The USPTO requires owners based outside the United States to be represented by a US-licensed attorney. Our US-licensed attorney is counsel of record on every United States application we file, so you do not need to find one yourself.

Question 29

What information becomes public on the USPTO record?

Accepted Answer

The USPTO record shows the owner's name and address, the mark, the goods and services, the filing basis, and the correspondence details. A United States LLC's members are not listed. Where our office is the correspondence address, that address appears instead of yours.

Question 30

How does the Madrid Protocol compare to direct filing?

Accepted Answer

The Madrid Protocol (WIPO's Madrid System) lets you extend your home trademark to multiple countries and regions through a single international application. Direct filing means filing separately with each country. Direct filings are independent of each other; an international registration depends on your home trademark for the first 5 years.

Question 31

How do I track my application?

Accepted Answer

After placing your order, log in to your client dashboard to track every application in real time. You'll see current status, upcoming deadlines, documents, prosecution history, and automated email notifications at every stage.

Question 32

What if I need help choosing the right service?

Accepted Answer

Book a free consultation with our team. We'll review your situation, recommend the best filing strategy, and answer any questions. The consultation is free.

Question 33

Can I manage multiple trademarks in one account?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your dashboard provides a full portfolio view of all your trademarks across every country and region. You can manage renewals, deadlines, documents, and prosecution events for your entire trademark portfolio from one account.

Question 34

Do you offer services for law firms and agencies?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our GTC B2B program offers white-label services, volume discounts, dedicated account management, and API integration for law firms, agencies, and corporate IP departments managing multiple client portfolios.

Question 35

How do I contact support?

Accepted Answer

You can reach us via email at hello@globaltrademarkcompany.com, through the contact form on our website, or by booking a free consultation. Our hours are Monday to Friday, 10:00-17:00, in the United States (ET), Europe (CET), and India (IST). We respond within one business day.

Question 36

Can I file in a language other than English?

Accepted Answer

Our platform and forms are in English, but we file applications in the required local language for each country. Translation is part of the service. You don't need to translate anything yourself.

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