FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Do I really need an Attorney?
How are tm4smallbiz.com's rates so competitive?
What services are included in the fee?
I filed a tradename certificate with the state, do I still need a trademark registration?
How long will it take for my application to be processed?

Do I really need an attorney ?
While it is true that you can file your own application for a trademark registration, trademark law is a complicated specialty. An error in an application can prevent the Patent and Trademark Office from issuing a registration. Further, compiling and organizing all the necessary data and paperwork can be a lengthy and complicated task for a trademark novice.

Specialty - Mr. Pelton specializes in trademark applications. He will prepare, review and file each application by hand and handle any revisions necessary after review by the Patent and Trademark Office.

Experience - Mr. Pelton's experience working for the Patent and Trademark Office gives him the necessary knowledge and tools to write applications which are more likely to be approved and to take less time than if you were to prepare and file the application yourself.

Value - If an application filed by you is rejected and then you decide to hire an attorney to prepare a responding brief, the attorney fees could be over $1,000 - many attorneys with Mr. Pelton's experience bill at a rate of more than $200 per hour!

How does tm4smallbiz.com provide these services for so much less than the competition ?
I specialize in the field of trademark law and have an in-depth knowledge of all issues which may arise. I use the Internet and other automated databases and forms to streamline the application preparation process.

Other attorneys bill by the hour, I charge one low flat rate.

My offices are located minutes from the Patent and Trademark Office headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.

As a former examiner at the Patent and Trademark Office, I learned from "the other side" the nuances of the application process. I can therefore draft applications to minimize the amount of amendment or response required after the Patent and Trademark Office reviews it.

What services are included in the fee ?
The fee is all-inclusive and covers all costs (except the PTO filing fee) and all communications and briefs with the Patent and Trademark Office which may be required.

I filed a tradename certificate with the state, do I still need a trademark registration ?
Yes! All you did was notify the state of your name. Your corporate name is completely separate from your trademarks and does not protect the use of your name outside the region.

How long will it take for my application to be processed ?
Your application will prepared and filed within two weeks. Once filed, the amount of time it takes to receive a registration varies, from about six months to over a year. Currently, the government is experiencing a large increase in the number of applications filed and it take several months before each application is even reviewed.

However, the most important date regarding each trademark is the FILING DATE, because once a registration is issued, the rights it grants to the trademark owner begin from the FILING DATE. If you have any additional questions, please contact us.

For additional information or a free consultation, Contact Mr. Pelton