Guides
Trademarks, explained plainly
No fluff, no fabricated numbers — real guidance on searching, clearing, registering and monitoring a trademark, written for founders and sellers naming something new.
Naming a Startup: A Trademark Checklist
A practical checklist for clearing a startup name before you commit — including how AI agents and automated naming tools should run trademark clearance as part of the naming process, not after it.
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Trademark Monitoring, Explained
Registering a trademark doesn't protect it automatically — the USPTO doesn't police new conflicting filings for you. Here's what trademark monitoring (watch services) actually do, and why they matter.
Do I Need a Trademark Attorney?
You're not legally required to hire an attorney for a straightforward US trademark filing — but there are specific situations where skipping one is a false economy. Here's how to decide.
How to Trademark a Logo
Trademarking a logo works differently from trademarking a name — design marks, standard character marks, and how to decide which one (or both) to register first.
How to Trademark a Business Name
Registering a business name with your state is not the same as trademarking it. Here's the difference, and the actual steps to get federal trademark protection for your business name.
What Is a Trademark Clearance Search?
A clearance search goes beyond checking if a name is taken — it's a structured risk assessment of whether you can safely use and register a name. Here's what it covers and when you need one.
TESS Is Gone: How to Search Trademarks Now
The USPTO retired TESS (Trademark Electronic Search System) in November 2023. Here's what replaced it, where to search live trademark records today, and why the switch is actually an improvement.
Trademark Classes, Explained: The Nice Classification System
How the 45-class Nice Classification system works, why picking the right class matters more than picking the right name, and how to figure out which classes cover your product.
How to Do a Trademark Search (Before You File)
A practical walkthrough of how to search USPTO trademark records for conflicts — what to search, how to read the results, and what a clear result does and doesn't tell you.
Trademark vs Copyright vs Patent: What's the Difference?
Trademarks, copyrights and patents protect different things and are handled by different processes. Here's how to tell which one (or more) your business actually needs.
How Much Does a Trademark Cost? A Realistic Breakdown
USPTO filing fees, per-class costs, attorney fees, and the hidden costs of a trademark application — plus how to avoid paying for a filing that gets refused.
How to Trademark a Name: A Step-by-Step Guide
The full process for trademarking a business, product or brand name in the US — clearance, classes, filing basis, the USPTO application, and what happens after you file.