It is an agency of the United States Department of Commerce that regulates the registration of patents, copyrights and trademarks.

There are two format of the marks i.e. "special form drawings" and "standard character drawings." For special form marks, generally, the most appropriate drawing of the mark shows an illustrated rendering of the mark. However, a photograph may also be acceptable if it accurately depicts the mark and does not show additional matter that is not part of the mark. Drawing must show only one mark.

For registration of a mark under USPTO, the basis of filing must be specified. There are five filing bases such as use of the mark in commerce, bona fide intention to use a mark in commerce, a claim of priority, based on an earlier-filed foreign application, ownership of a registration of the mark in the applicant’s country of origin, extension of protection of an international registration to the United States. The applicant may assert different bases for different classes, and may also assert different bases as to different goods or services within a class.

If the application is filed under the basis of “intent to use” then a verification has to be filed along with the application that the applicant has a bona fide intention of using the mark in the course of trade. Similarly in whichever class the application is being filed, for that class, the applicant has to file verification for each class.

No, the filing fee will not be refunded by the USPTO.

After you file a trademark application, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) in about three months will examine the application. After the examination, an objection in the form of an “office action” may be issued.

There are two kinds of “Office Action” such as If the office action is raised for the first time “non- final” office action issued showing the discrepancy present in the application and giving an opportunity to the parties to address or correct them. If the applicant cannot correct the discrepancy, the USPTO will send final office action.

After examination of the trademark application if the examiner finds that: There is likelihood of confusion between the applicant’s mark and another already existing mark, or the mark is such that it is barred from registration i.e. it is descriptive or is a geographic name, there are technical errors in Trademark filing, the examiner might issue an office action. There are many other grounds also on the basis of which office action may be issued.

After filing of the application in about three months the application is examined by the examiner and within one month, “Office Action” is issued.

The applicant must respond to an office action within 6 months from the date of the issuance of the “Office Action”.

The answer of this question differs from case to case depending upon many factors such as the basis under which the application has been filed, whether office action has been issued or not, whether there is any third party opposition or not etc. But assuming no objection is raised by the examiner and the general public, the mark can be registered within 10 months.

The fee is only for filing a trademark in United States. If an office action is raised, we will charge a professional fee on the basis of the gravity of the office action. If the matter goes into TTAB due to Third Party objection post publication, attorney fee has to be paid on an “as required” basis.

Yes, you don’t have to be a citizen of United States but the citizenship of the applicant must be mentioned in the record and the said person must have a commercial presence in the United States.

The duration of Trademark registration protection is 10 years and it can be renewed further for subsequent 10 years upon payment of renewal fee.