- Transparent flat fees · Attorneys with 25+ years of combined trademark experience
A new name is an investment in signs, packaging, domains and marketing. A trademark search tells you whether that investment is safe before you make it, and a Minnesota trademark lawyer explains what the results mean for your business.
Flat, published fees · Offices in St. Paul & Coon Rapids · 100% recommend on Facebook (100+ reviews)
Short answer: Trademark clearance is the process of searching for existing marks that could block your registration or lead to an infringement claim, then getting an attorney opinion on the risk. Twin Cities Trademarks offers a $600 screening search for early name decisions and a $1,600 comprehensive search covering USPTO records, state registries and common-law use, each reviewed by an attorney who explains the risk in plain terms.
| Service | What's included | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Formal screening search | Preliminary screening of your proposed mark | $600 |
| Comprehensive search | USPTO records plus state trademark registries | $1,600 |
| 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 |
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.
The USPTO does not search for you before taking your filing fee. If an examining attorney finds a confusingly similar registration, the application is refused and the fee is not refunded. Worse, a business already using a similar name may have rights in Minnesota or nationwide even without a registration, and can demand that you stop using your brand after you have invested in it.
A search answers two separate questions. Can I register it? That depends on USPTO records and the distinctiveness of the mark. Can I use it safely? That depends on everyone using similar names in your market, registered or not. A Twin Cities trademark lawyer weighs both.
Best when you are choosing between candidate names or want a fast go/no-go read. We search federal registrations and pending applications for identical and closely similar marks in related goods and services, and give you a written summary of the obvious risks.
Best before a major launch, rebrand, franchise offering or product line. It covers federal records, all state trademark registries, business name databases, domain names and common-law use online. We review the full report and give you a written risk assessment with recommendations.
A search report is only a list of names. The value is in the analysis. A Minnesota trademark attorney looks at the factors the USPTO and courts actually apply:
In federal court in Minnesota, trademark claims are decided under the Eighth Circuit's likelihood-of-confusion factors, so our clearance opinions are written with that standard in mind.
Trademark rights in the United States come from use, not just registration. A brewery in Duluth or a salon in Edina that has used a name for years can have priority in its market area even if it never filed with the USPTO. Free online searches of the USPTO database miss these users entirely. Our comprehensive search looks at state registrations, business filings, web and social media use so you are not surprised by a local business with older rights.
Minnesota has a dense business community with many similar names, especially in food and beverage, construction, health care and professional services across Minneapolis, St. Paul and the suburbs. We regularly clear names for breweries and taprooms, restaurants, contractors, medical device startups in the Twin Cities corridor, agricultural businesses in Greater Minnesota and online sellers statewide.
Because we also handle the filings and disputes that follow, a Twin Cities trademark lawyer at our firm can tell you not just whether a conflict exists, but how likely it is to cause a real problem and what it would take to resolve it.
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 clearance search looks for registered and unregistered marks that are similar to yours for related goods or services. An attorney then evaluates whether those marks could block your registration or expose you to an infringement claim.
Our screening search is $600 and our comprehensive search is $1,600. Both include attorney review and a written summary, not just a raw database report.
A screening search covers federal registrations and applications for close matches. A comprehensive search adds state registries, business names, domains and common-law use, and includes a fuller risk analysis.
You can, and it is a good first step to rule out exact matches. But a do-it-yourself search usually misses similar spellings, related goods and unregistered users, which are the conflicts that cause most problems.
No. Filing an LLC or assumed name with the Minnesota Secretary of State does not search for trademark conflicts and does not give you trademark rights. Another business may already have rights in the same name.
Screening searches are usually completed within a few business days. Comprehensive searches typically take one to two weeks, depending on how many similar marks need review. A Minnesota trademark lawyer reviews every result before you receive the report.
No search can guarantee registration, because new applications are filed every day and examining attorneys use judgment. A careful search greatly reduces the risk and helps you make an informed decision.
It is the test for whether two marks are too close. The USPTO and courts compare the marks and the goods or services, along with factors like trade channels and the strength of the existing mark.
Common-law rights come from actually using a mark in business, even without registering it. In Minnesota and elsewhere, a prior user can often stop a later user in its market area.
Yes. Search before you commit money to the name. Changing a domain is cheap, but replacing signs, packaging, vehicle wraps and marketing after a dispute is not.
Your Minnesota trademark lawyer explains how serious it is. Options may include choosing a different name, narrowing your goods or services, adding distinctive elements, or in some cases approaching the other owner about coexistence.
Yes. Design marks are searched using USPTO design codes in addition to any words in the logo. A Minnesota trademark attorney can tell you whether the design adds protection or risk.
Yes. Online sales and social media reach beyond state lines, and a federal registrant anywhere in the country may have rights that cover Minnesota. Local unregistered users may also have priority.
A comprehensive search with attorney review is the best tool for assessing infringement risk before you launch. If you are already using a name and received a complaint, we provide a separate infringement analysis.
Our standard searches focus on the United States. If you plan to sell abroad, we can discuss searches in specific countries or through international databases.
Yes. Your proposed name and our analysis are confidential, and communications with your Minnesota trademark attorney are generally protected by attorney-client privilege.
Send us your candidates. A screening search on a short list is a cost-effective way to eliminate risky names early and focus on the strongest option.
The USPTO refuses marks that merely describe the goods or services, such as BEST PLUMBING for plumbing services. Distinctive or invented names are easier to register and easier to protect.
Results reflect the records on the date of the search. If you wait several months to file or launch, we recommend a quick update, since new applications are filed daily.
Call (651) 222-3776 or request a free consultation. A Twin Cities trademark lawyer will recommend the right search level and start as soon as you approve.
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.
