United States
Section 8 & 15Miss your Section 8 window and your registration is cancelled. At the 5-year mark, file to keep it alive.
Between years 5-6 after registration, every US trademark needs a Section 8 Declaration of Continued Use — miss it, and the brand you built is cancelled with no way back. US-licensed attorneys prepare and file your declaration, and file Section 15 at the same time to make your mark incontestable.
- Filed by US-licensed trademark attorneys
- Priority processing — filed within 3 business days
- Optional Section 15 for incontestability, filed alongside
From $250.00 GTC service fee per class — USPTO government fees ($325/class for Section 8 & 15) passed through at cost, every line itemised before you pay.
Post-Registration Attorney Representation included free for 1 year. A retainer may apply after that.
What you need to know
Understanding US trademark maintenance
Key concepts, deadlines, and requirements for maintaining your US trademark registration at the 5-year mark.
What is trademark maintenance?
The required Section 8 filing between years 5-6 that proves continued use of your mark.
- Mandatory to avoid cancellation of your registration
- Must include a current specimen showing commercial use
- Filed under 15 U.S.C. § 1058 (Section 8 of the Lanham Act)
Section 8: Declaration of Continued Use
A sworn statement with specimen showing your mark is actively used in commerce.
- Verifies the mark is used for the registered goods/services
- Specimen must show current, real-world commercial use
- Unused goods/services must be deleted from the registration
Section 15: Declaration of Incontestability
Optional filing that makes your registration conclusive evidence of ownership.
- Limits cancellation grounds to fraud, abandonment, or genericness
- Creates a legal presumption of validity and exclusive rights
- Requires 5 consecutive years of continuous use
Why file Section 15?
Substantial legal benefits for a small additional government fee.
- Nearly unchallengeable — only fraud/abandonment/genericness remain
- Strengthens your enforcement and licensing position
- Only $100/class additional USPTO fee alongside Section 8
Maintenance deadlines
Critical filing windows you must not miss.
- Filing window: between years 5-6 after registration
- 6-month grace period with a $100/class surcharge
- After the grace period: registration cancelled permanently
- No reinstatement — you'd need to file a new application
Specimen requirements
What the USPTO accepts as proof of continued use.
- Goods: labels, packaging, product photos, e-commerce screenshots
- Services: website, advertising, brochures showing the mark in use
- Must show current use (not historical)
- Mock-ups and digitally altered images are NOT accepted
Transparent pricing
No hidden fees, USPTO fees passed through at cost
Here's exactly what US trademark maintenance costs. Our service fee is flat; the USPTO's own government fee is whatever the office charges, passed through at cost.
Section 8 + Section 15
Continued use + incontestability
Service fee from
$250.00/class
+ USPTO fee $325/class
Section 8: $225 + Section 15: $100
Total for 1 class — from $575.00
- Section 8 declaration + specimen prepared and filed
- Section 15 incontestability filed alongside
- Goods/services scoped to your current use
Section 8 only
Continued use only
Service fee from
$250.00/class
+ USPTO fee $225/class
Section 8 declaration only
Total for 1 class — from $475.00
- Section 8 declaration + specimen prepared and filed
- Attorney-reviewed proof of continued use
- Goods/services scoped to your current use
Fees shown are per class. Late filing during the grace period incurs an additional $100/class surcharge. You get a complete breakdown — service fee and USPTO fee — before any work begins.
How it works
Two ways to file your declaration
Want a quote first? Submit an inquiry and we'll review your registration. Ready to file? Order directly and we file with priority processing.
Submit Inquiry
We review your registration and send you a personalized quote.
- 1
Submit your request
Fill out the form with your registration details and maintenance requirements.
- 2
We review your registration
Our team reviews your registration status and determines the required filings.
- 3
Invoice & payment
We send you an invoice with a secure payment link. Complete payment to proceed.
- 4
Preparation & filing
We prepare and file your Section 8 & 15 declarations with the USPTO.
- 5
All done
Your maintenance declaration is filed. You'll receive confirmation from the USPTO.
Direct Order
Pay now and we file with priority processing.
- 1
Complete the form
Fill out the form with your registration details and upload your specimen of use.
- 2
Secure checkout
Complete payment through our secure Stripe checkout. You'll receive immediate confirmation.
- 3
Priority processing
Our legal team prepares and files your maintenance declaration within 3 business days.
- 4
Filed with USPTO
Your Section 8 & 15 declarations are filed. We'll send you all confirmation documents.
The maintenance lifecycle
What keeps a US registration alive, and when
A US trademark is maintained on a fixed cadence. Each filing has its own window — and missing one can end the registration permanently.
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Years 5–6
Section 8 Declaration of Continued Use
Between the 5th and 6th anniversary of registration, file a Section 8 declaration with a current specimen to prove the mark is still in use. File Section 15 at the same time to make the registration incontestable. Missing this window — and the 6-month grace period after it — cancels the registration permanently.
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Years 9–10
Section 8 & 9 renewal
Between the 9th and 10th anniversary, a combined Section 8 & 9 filing both proves continued use and renews the registration for another 10-year term. This is the trademark renewal step — distinct from the year 5-6 maintenance filing.
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Every 10 years
Renew indefinitely
After the first renewal, a Section 8 & 9 filing is due in every following 10-year window. As long as you keep using the mark and file on time, a US registration can be maintained forever.
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.”
Maintenance questions, answered straight
US trademark maintenance FAQs
Got a USPTO maintenance deadline coming up?
Ready when you are.
Send us your registration number and a US trademark attorney will pull every maintenance window (§8, §9, §15), calendar them, and quote each filing separately — a free 30-minute call, no obligation.
