- Transparent flat fees · Attorneys with 25+ years of combined trademark experience
A federal registration is the strongest protection a brand name or logo can have in the United States. We guide Minnesota businesses through every stage at the USPTO, from the application to the registration certificate.
Flat, published fees · Offices in St. Paul & Coon Rapids · 100% recommend on Facebook (100+ reviews)
Short answer: Federal trademark registration is the process of getting your mark entered on the USPTO Principal Register. It gives you nationwide priority, the right to use the ® symbol, a legal presumption that you own the mark, and access to federal courts and U.S. Customs enforcement. The process usually takes about a year when no problems arise. Twin Cities Trademarks handles the filing, monitors examination, answers office actions and follows the application through publication to registration.
| Service | What's included | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Federal trademark application (one class) | $700 legal fee + $350 USPTO filing fee | $1,050 |
| Each additional class | $150 legal fee + $350 USPTO filing fee | $500 |
| Office action response | Quoted before work begins | Typically $350–$900 |
| Statement of use (intent-to-use) | Per class, government fee included | $550 per class |
| Six-month extension of time to show use | Per class, government fee included | $550 per class |
| Formal screening search | Preliminary screening of your proposed mark | $600 |
| Comprehensive search | USPTO records plus state trademark registries | $1,600 |
Flat fees as published on our fee schedule. USPTO fees are set by the government and can change. Paying a filing fee does not guarantee registration.
An office action is a letter from the examining attorney explaining why the mark cannot register yet. Some are technical, such as a description that needs clarification or a specimen that does not show the mark correctly. Others are substantive, such as a likelihood-of-confusion refusal or a descriptiveness refusal.
A Minnesota trademark lawyer reviews the refusal, explains your options and prepares written arguments or amendments. Typical responses run $350 to $900 at our firm, quoted before we begin. Missing the deadline causes the application to be abandoned, so we docket every date.
Minnesota offers a state trademark registration through the Secretary of State. It is inexpensive and fast, but it only covers Minnesota and does not include the federal benefits above. A state registration can make sense for a business that will never sell outside Minnesota or whose services do not qualify for federal registration. For most businesses that sell online or plan to grow, a Minnesota trademark attorney will recommend federal registration, sometimes alongside a state filing.
Federal registration is especially valuable for Minnesota businesses that sell beyond the state: food and beverage brands shipping regionally, medical technology and software companies in the Twin Cities, outdoor and sporting brands, and service businesses that franchise or license. We also work with restaurants, salons and contractors in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Plymouth, Lakeville, Blaine and across Greater Minnesota who want to stop copycats from using their name.
Clients can meet a Twin Cities trademark lawyer at our St. Paul or Coon Rapids office or work with us entirely remotely.
Transparent, flat-fee pricing. Federal applications start at $700 plus the $350 USPTO fee per class. Your Twin Cities trademark lawyer quotes every other service up front, before work begins.
It is registration of your trademark on the USPTO Principal Register. It provides nationwide priority, use of the ® symbol, legal presumptions of ownership and validity, and access to federal remedies.
When there are no office actions or oppositions, use-based applications typically register in about a year. Office actions, oppositions and intent-to-use filings add time.
At our firm, filing costs a flat $700 legal fee plus a $350 USPTO fee per class. Office action responses, typically $350 to $900, and statements of use, $550 per class, are added only if needed.
An office action is a letter from the USPTO examining attorney listing issues that must be resolved before registration. You generally have three months to respond, with one paid three-month extension available.
The most common substantive refusals are likelihood of confusion with an existing mark and descriptiveness. Technical issues with the description of goods or the specimen are also common.
No. The ® symbol is only for registered marks. While your application is pending you may use ™ for goods or ℠ for services.
After approval, your mark is published in the USPTO Official Gazette. Anyone who believes they would be harmed by registration has 30 days to oppose or request an extension of time to oppose.
For intent-to-use applications, a notice of allowance means the mark is approved but you must show use before it registers. You have six months to file a statement of use, extendable up to 36 months total.
U.S.-based applicants are not required to hire an attorney, but an attorney improves the odds of approval and protects the scope of your rights. Foreign-domiciled applicants must use a U.S.-licensed attorney.
Yes. A federal registration covers all 50 states, including Minnesota, and gives you stronger tools than a state registration alone.
Yes. Third parties can petition to cancel a registration on certain grounds. After five years of continuous use following registration, many grounds are no longer available once the mark becomes incontestable.
It is a secondary register for marks that are descriptive but capable of becoming distinctive. It offers fewer benefits but allows use of the ® symbol and can be a step toward the Principal Register.
Yes. Service marks protect names and logos used for services, such as restaurants, law firms, contractors and consultants. They are registered through the same USPTO process.
An opposition is a proceeding before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. A Twin Cities trademark lawyer can evaluate the opposition, negotiate with the opposer and represent you if needed.
Yes. Registrations must be supported by ongoing use. Nonuse for three consecutive years is presumed abandonment, which can lead to cancellation.
With a specimen showing the mark on goods, labels or packaging, or in advertising for services. We review specimens before filing to avoid refusals.
Yes, if you use it as a brand to identify your goods or services rather than only as a company name. A Minnesota trademark attorney can tell you whether your use qualifies.
No. The USPTO does not police marks for owners. Registration gives you the tools, but monitoring and enforcement are up to you, and a Minnesota trademark attorney can handle both. We offer brand monitoring for this reason.
Yes. Registrations can be assigned along with the goodwill of the business, and a Twin Cities trademark lawyer can record the assignment with the USPTO.
Call (651) 222-3776 or request a free consultation. A Minnesota trademark lawyer will review your mark, explain the timeline and give you a flat-fee quote.
Free consultation by phone, video or in person in St. Paul or Coon Rapids.
Or call (651) 222-3776
Twin Cities Trademarks PLLC · St. Paul & Coon Rapids, MN. This page provides general information, not legal advice for your situation. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Fees listed exclude USPTO government fees unless stated and may change; see our pricing page for current figures.
