You should register your Trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office so you have federal legal protection for your mark. And, your registration gives formal notice to everyone that you have rights in your brand name.

The reason to conduct a search is twofold: To make sure that you are not infringing on another party’s prior Trademark rights; and to make sure that the Trademark you’ve chosen is clear to register.

Your new Trademark application will be filed within a few days after the completion of the search process. Depending on when you begin your use of the Trademark, registration can take as little as 10 months.  In the meantime, you can use your Trademark while the application is pending.

Forever, as long as you continue to use the Trademark. There are filings and renewal payments required on the 6th and 10th anniversary of your registration date, and then every ten years thereafter.

A Trademark is your brand name – a source identifier for your products and services.  Copyright protection is available for literary works, artistic works, software, movies, music and more.