- Transparent flat fees · Attorneys with 25+ years of combined trademark experience
Your trademark is an asset. When it changes hands, or when you let someone else use it, the paperwork decides whether that asset keeps its value. We draft trademark assignments and licenses for Minnesota businesses and record them with the USPTO.
Flat, published fees · Offices in St. Paul & Coon Rapids · 100% recommend on Facebook (100+ reviews)
Short answer: A trademark assignment transfers ownership of a mark, and under federal law it must include the goodwill of the business the mark represents. A trademark license lets someone else use the mark while you keep ownership and control quality. Both should be in writing, and assignments should be recorded with the USPTO. Twin Cities Trademarks drafts and reviews these agreements and handles recordation.
| Service | What's included | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Attorney time (opinions, disputes, oppositions, cancellations, assignments, other services) | Hourly attorney rate | $400 / hour |
| Federal trademark application (one class) | $700 legal fee + $350 USPTO filing fee | $1,050 |
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 assignment without the goodwill of the business is called an assignment in gross and can be invalid. Intent-to-use applications also have special limits: generally they cannot be assigned before use is shown, except to a successor of the applicant's business. A Minnesota trademark attorney drafts the assignment to satisfy these rules.
When you license a trademark you must control the nature and quality of the goods or services sold under it. A license with no real quality control, called a naked license, can cause the owner to lose rights in the mark. Our license agreements include practical quality standards, approval rights for new products and marketing, inspection rights, and clear termination provisions, sized to how your business actually operates.
Many trademark transfers we handle come from Minnesota business sales: a Twin Cities restaurant group selling a concept, a family manufacturer in Greater Minnesota passing the business to the next generation, or a startup reorganizing before a funding round. We work alongside your business attorney, accountant or broker so the trademark piece of the deal is done correctly and on schedule.
If you are licensing a brand, a Twin Cities trademark lawyer can build an agreement that protects your mark without burying a small licensee in paperwork.
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.
A trademark assignment is a written transfer of ownership of a trademark from one party to another. Under federal law, the assignment must include the goodwill of the business associated with the mark.
A trademark license is an agreement that lets another party use your mark while you keep ownership. The owner must control the quality of the goods or services sold under the mark.
Recording is not required for the transfer to be valid between the parties, but it is strongly recommended. Recording gives public notice and protects the new owner against later conflicting transfers.
It means the mark is transferred along with the business reputation it represents, such as the product line or services. A transfer of the name alone, without goodwill, can be invalid.
Yes, but intent-to-use applications generally cannot be assigned before a statement of use is filed unless the transfer is to a successor of the business. A Minnesota trademark lawyer can confirm whether your transfer qualifies.
A naked license is one where the owner does not control the quality of goods or services sold under the mark. It can lead to loss of trademark rights, so every license should include quality control terms.
Often your business entity should own the mark. If you filed personally and now operate through an LLC, we can prepare an assignment or license that matches how the business actually runs.
The trademark should be specifically included in the purchase agreement and transferred by a written assignment. The assignment should then be recorded with the USPTO.
Simple assignments and recordations are typically billed at modest flat or hourly rates. A Minnesota trademark lawyer will quote the work based on the number of marks and the complexity of the transaction.
Key terms include the licensed marks, goods or services, territory, exclusivity, quality standards, approval rights, royalties, term, termination and what happens to inventory when the license ends.
No. An exclusive license gives the licensee sole use rights in a defined scope, but the licensor still owns the mark and must control quality. An assignment transfers ownership itself.
Yes. A trademark license is a core part of every franchise relationship. Minnesota also has a franchise law with registration and disclosure rules, so we coordinate with franchise counsel where needed.
A coexistence agreement lets two businesses with similar marks operate side by side under agreed limits, such as different products or territories. A Minnesota trademark lawyer can often use one to resolve a conflict without litigation.
It depends on the error. Some can be fixed with an assignment, while an application filed by someone who did not own the mark may be void and need refiling. A Minnesota trademark attorney can review your situation.
Yes. Lenders often take a security interest in trademarks. Security interests can be recorded with the USPTO, and a Minnesota trademark attorney can review the terms for you.
Yes. Platform accounts are not updated automatically. After the USPTO records the assignment, the new owner should update Brand Registry and other marketplaces.
Recordation is usually processed by the USPTO within days to a few weeks, and the ownership records of the registration are then updated.
Yes. Merchandise licenses are common for breweries, sports organizations, nonprofits and brands with a loyal following. The license should define products, approvals and royalties.
The current owner, or an authorized officer if the owner is a company, must sign. The new owner usually signs as well to accept the transfer, and a Twin Cities trademark lawyer can prepare the signature pages.
Call (651) 222-3776 or request a free consultation. A Twin Cities trademark lawyer will review the deal and explain the documents you need.
Free consultation by phone, video or in person in St. Paul or Coon Rapids.
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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.
