US trademark assignment · USPTO recordal
An unrecorded assignment quietly breaks your chain of title at the USPTO.
When a brand is sold, merged, or moved between entities, the USPTO register still points at the old owner until the assignment is recorded — and if the goodwill isn't transferred with it, the assignment can be void. We draft the agreement, get the goodwill right, and record it cleanly with the USPTO Assignment Recordation Branch.
From $150.00 per mark + a $40 USPTO recordation fee at cost · US-licensed attorney · recorded via ETAS.
Recorded with the USPTO Assignment Recordation Branch via the Electronic Trademark Assignment System (ETAS).
- Sales, mergers, name changes, and corporate restructuring
- US-licensed attorneys handle the full USPTO process
- Goodwill transferred correctly — bare assignments are void in the US
- Recorded with the USPTO Assignment Recordation Branch via ETAS
When you need an assignment
Any change of owner means the marks have to move too.
An assignment is what officially transfers ownership of a trademark from one party to another — by sale, merger, restructuring, or name change. Record it at the USPTO, and your chain of title stays clean. Skip it, and the rights sit with the wrong owner until someone needs them most.
You're selling or buying a brand or business
When a brand changes hands, the trademarks have to move with it. An unrecorded transfer leaves the USPTO register pointing at the old owner — so the buyer can't enforce, license, or resell the mark cleanly until the assignment is recorded.
You're merging, restructuring, or changing entity
Mergers, acquisitions, and entity changes (sole proprietorship to LLC, group reorganisations) all create a new legal owner. Moving marks between related entities without recording the assignment breaks the chain of title the next time you need to rely on it.
You're cleaning up before a sale, raise, or licence
Due-diligence teams scrutinise the chain of title. A gap — a past assignment that was signed but never recorded at the USPTO — can stall a financing, lower a valuation, or kill a licensing deal until it's cured. Better to fix it before someone else finds it.
What's included
From chain-of-title check to confirmed USPTO recordal.
The service fee covers the legal work end to end. The USPTO recordation fee is passed through at cost, itemised before you pay.
- Chain-of-title review before any work begins — we confirm who actually owns the mark at the USPTO
- US-licensed attorney drafts the assignment agreement between assignor and assignee
- Goodwill of the business handled correctly — a US assignment in gross is void
- USPTO recordation prepared and filed electronically via ETAS
- Supporting evidence assembled (merger certificates, name-change proofs)
- Confirmation of recordal and updated ownership on the USPTO register
Transparent pricing
A flat service fee. The USPTO fee at cost.
Our assignment fee covers agreement drafting and USPTO recordal. The USPTO ETAS recordation fee is $40 per property, passed through at cost — every line is broken out before any work begins.
Single mark
Single Mark Assignment
From $150.00
per mark, plus a $40 USPTO recordation fee at cost
- Attorney-drafted assignment agreement
- Goodwill transferred correctly for the USPTO
- USPTO recordation prepared and filed via ETAS
- $40 USPTO recordation fee per property (at cost)
Multiple marks
Multiple Marks / Complex
Custom quote
mergers, bulk transfers & multi-registration filings
- Bulk pricing across multiple marks
- Merger, acquisition, and restructuring support
- Complete chain-of-title audit across the portfolio
- $40 USPTO recordation fee per property recorded
The USPTO ETAS recordation fee is $40 per property. Our fee covers full document preparation, review, and the recordation filing. We provide a complete breakdown before any work begins.
Understanding assignments
The detail that keeps a US transfer valid.
Goodwill, chain of title, partial transfers — the parts that quietly invalidate a do-it-yourself USPTO assignment are exactly the parts we get right.
What a trademark assignment is
- The legal transfer of all rights, title, and interest in a mark from one party to another
- Permanently transfers ownership — unlike a licence, which only grants permission to use
- Must be documented in writing and recorded with the USPTO for a clear chain of title
Why chain of title matters
- Recording gives the public constructive notice of the ownership change
- Protects the new owner against subsequent bona fide purchasers
- Required before the new owner can file maintenance documents (Section 8, renewals)
- Gaps in the chain can invalidate an enforcement attempt
Assignment must include goodwill
- A US trademark can't exist apart from the goodwill it symbolises
- An assignment 'in gross' — without the business goodwill — is void
- The agreement must expressly transfer the goodwill associated with the mark
- Goodwill = the reputation and customer recognition tied to the mark
Common pitfalls we prevent
- Assignments 'in gross' (without goodwill), which are void and can abandon the mark
- Failing to record, leaving gaps in the chain of title
- Partial assignments without a proper goods/services split
- Incomplete documentation that delays USPTO recordation
How it works
Five steps from request to recorded USPTO ownership.
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1
Submit your assignment details
Provide the registration or application number and the ownership change (sale, merger, name change, etc.).
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2
Attorney reviews the mark
Our US-licensed attorney reviews the mark, verifies the chain of title, and determines the right assignment documentation.
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3
We prepare the documents
We prepare the assignment agreement and USPTO recordation documents for your review and signature.
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4
Assignment recorded with the USPTO
Once signed, we file with the USPTO Assignment Recordation Branch via the Electronic Trademark Assignment System (ETAS) and track the recordal.
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5
Confirmation received
You receive the recorded assignment confirmation and updated USPTO records reflecting the new ownership.
Post-Registration Attorney Representation is included free for 1 year. An Attorney Representation retainer may apply after that.
Your Customer Success Team
A real team that owns your matter — not a ticket queue.
Every GTC client gets a dedicated Account Manager and a Senior Account Manager who learn your business and stay with you from first email to final filing — real people who pick up the phone, so you never re-explain your brand or chase a queue.
Your Account Manager
Your day-to-day point of contact — coordinates every matter, keeps things moving, and already knows your file. No intake form, no re-explaining.
Your Senior Account Manager
Senior oversight on strategy and escalations, stepping in as your needs grow — so nothing important slips through the cracks.
A real person, on email or a call — at every step.
The proof
Real work, real clients, real reviews
7,500+
Trademarks filed
10,000+
Clients served
107
Trademark jurisdictions
11
In-house attorneys
“I've had the pleasure of working with Rajat for many years. He has expertly guided me through the process of registering my company in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and more. His deep knowledge of trademark law across jurisdictions is impressive.”
“We had various US trademarks to submit, and the team at Modi & Zaidi handled the entire process. They are friendly, knowledgeable and punctual. We will definitely use their services again.”
“Working with Maryam & the team of Rajat Modi has been an exceptional experience. Her professionalism, knowledge, and commitment to my case have been evident throughout the process.”
“I am a regular customer of GTC. They have done more than 15 Multi-Countries Trademarks for me so far. Their service quality and turnaround time is exceptional.”
“I had infringed on the copyright of a big brand, which threatened to lose my business. However, thanks to the professional work of this team, we signed the best possible contract and saved the business.”
“Global Trademark Company is the best in the business and I've used them for a number of my applications. Highly recommended for anyone looking for reliable trademark services.”
US trademark assignment FAQ
Common questions
Not sure how to record the assignment with the USPTO?
Ready when you are.
Book a free 30-minute consult with a US-licensed trademark attorney. We'll confirm whether you need an assignment, a licence, or a change of name, check the chain of title, scope the USPTO recordal, and quote a flat fee — no sales pitch, no obligation.
