How To Trademark A Title?

Trademarking a title can be a crucial step in protecting your intellectual property and ensuring that your creative works are uniquely yours. Whether you’re an author, a musician, or a filmmaker, securing a trademark for your title can prevent others from using a similar name that could confuse your audience or diminish your brand’s value. By understanding how to trademark a title, you can safeguard your creative endeavors and establish a distinct identity in your industry.

Why To Trademark a Title?

Trademarking a title is essential for protecting your intellectual property and ensuring your work stands out in a crowded market. By securing a trademark, you gain exclusive rights to use the title for your specific type of product or service, preventing others from capitalizing on your brand’s recognition and reputation. This protection can be crucial for maintaining your brand’s integrity and value.

For example, consider the popular book series “Harry Potter” by J.K. Rowling. Trademarking the title “Harry Potter” prevents other authors from using similar titles for their books, which could confuse readers and dilute the brand’s strength. Without this protection, anyone could publish a book with a similar name, potentially misleading fans and harming the original work’s reputation.

Similarly, in the music industry, the band “The Beatles” trademarked their name to ensure no other musical group could use it. This trademark protects their legacy and prevents confusion among fans. Imagine the potential issues if another band started using the name “The Beatles”—it would create confusion and possibly damage the original band’s brand.

Trademarking a title also helps in legal disputes. If someone tries to use a title similar to yours, a registered trademark gives you a stronger position to challenge and stop them. This legal backing is vital for maintaining the exclusivity of your work and ensuring that your audience can easily identify and trust your brand.

How to Trademark a Title?

Decide How to File: First, decide whether you want to file the trademark application directly, use a legal website, or seek the assistance of an attorney. Filing directly can be cost-effective, but using an attorney or legal website might provide additional guidance and ensure all legal requirements are met. For example, using an attorney can be beneficial if you’re unsure about the nuances of trademark law or if your title is complex.
Review the Current Fee Schedule: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) updates its fee schedule periodically. Before submitting your application, review the current fees on the USPTO website. Understanding the costs involved will help you budget appropriately and avoid any surprises.
Search for Similar Trademarks: Conduct a thorough search in the USPTO Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) to confirm that no similar trademarks already exist. This step is crucial to avoid potential legal conflicts and ensure that your title is unique. For instance, if you’re looking to trademark a book title like “The Great Adventure,” a TESS search will help you verify that no similar titles are already trademarked.
Apply to Trademark a Phrase: File your trademark application through the USPTO’s Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS). Your application should include the following materials:
- Statement of Use: Describe how you intend to use the title in commerce.
- List of Preexisting Examples of Use: Provide examples showing how the title has already been used, if applicable.
- Drawing of the Trademark: Submit a visual representation of the title, especially if it includes unique design elements.
- Specimen of the Trademark: Include a sample of the title as used in commerce, such as on a book cover, movie poster, or album.
- Filing Fee: Pay the applicable filing fee based on the current USPTO fee schedule.
Use Your Trademark: Until your trademark is officially registered, you can use the TM (trademark) or SM (service mark) symbols to indicate that you are claiming rights to the title. Once your trademark is registered, you can use the ® symbol to notify others of your trademark status. For example, if you successfully trademark the title “Epic Journey” for a series of travel guides, you can use “Epic Journey®” to denote your registered trademark.

If you need additional help with registering a trademark, consider consulting with a lawyer through platforms like Trademark Registration Agency, which connects you with top legal professionals. Lawyers on Trademark Registration Agency have extensive experience and can provide valuable assistance throughout the trademarking process, ensuring that your title is properly protected.

How Much Does it Cost To Trademark a Title?

Trademarking a title involves several steps, each of which may incur specific costs. When filing directly with the USPTO’s Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS), you can choose from three basic options, each with its own fee structure:

TEAS Plus:
- Basic Filing Fee: $250
- Additional Class Fee: $125 per class of goods or services
- Communication: Requires you to handle further communications via email
- Description: TEAS Plus has stricter requirements regarding the specificity of goods/services descriptions and requires upfront filing fees for additional classes.
TEAS Reduced Fee (TEAS RF):
- Basic Filing Fee: $275
- Additional Class Fee: $125 per class of goods or services, which can be paid later
- Communication: Requires you to handle further communications via email
- Description: TEAS RF offers slightly more flexibility compared to TEAS Plus but still requires electronic communication and adherence to some specific guidelines.
TEAS Regular:
- Basic Filing Fee: $350
- Additional Class Fee: Costs vary for adding classes of goods and services
- Communication: Allows for submission of further application materials outside the TEAS system
- Description: TEAS Regular provides the most flexibility in terms of submission requirements but comes at a higher cost.

For example, if you are looking to trademark a book title under the TEAS Plus option and you want to cover two classes of goods or services (e.g., printed books and e-books), your total cost would be $375 ($250 basic filing fee + $125 additional class fee).

On the other hand, choosing the TEAS Regular option for the same two classes would cost $350 initially, with possible additional fees depending on the specific requirements for the additional classes.

It’s important to carefully review the current USPTO fee schedule and the specific requirements of each filing option to determine the most suitable and cost-effective method for your trademark application.

What If Someone Copies a Trademarked Title?

If someone copies a trademarked title, it can lead to significant legal and business implications. Here are the steps you can take and the potential consequences for the infringer:

Cease and Desist Letter: The first step is often to send a cease and desist letter to the infringing party. This letter formally requests that they stop using your trademarked title immediately. It serves as a warning and can sometimes resolve the issue without further legal action. For example, if another author publishes a book with a title identical to your trademarked book title, you can send them a cease and desist letter outlining your trademark rights and demanding they stop using the title.
Legal Action: If the infringer ignores the cease and desist letter, you may need to escalate the matter by filing a lawsuit for trademark infringement. This legal action can seek various remedies, including:
- Injunction: A court order requiring the infringer to stop using the trademarked title.
- Damages: Compensation for any financial losses you’ve incurred due to the infringement.
- Account of Profits: Any profits made by the infringer from using your trademarked title may be awarded to you.
- Destruction of Infringing Materials: The court may order the destruction of materials bearing the infringing title, such as books, merchandise, or marketing materials.
Maintaining Trademark Rights: Actively defending your trademark is crucial to maintaining its protection. Failure to enforce your trademark rights can weaken your claim and potentially lead to a loss of exclusive rights. By taking action against infringers, you demonstrate that you are actively protecting your trademark.
Public Awareness: Publicizing your trademark rights can also help deter potential infringers. Clearly marking your title with the appropriate trademark symbols (™ or ®) informs others that the title is legally protected and that you are serious about defending it.

For instance, if a new movie releases with a title that closely resembles a well-known trademarked film title, the original trademark holder can take legal action to prevent consumer confusion and protect their brand. This was evident when Lucasfilm took legal action against a New York brewery for using the name “Empire’s Strikes Bock,” which was deemed too similar to the “Star Wars” movie title “The Empire Strikes Back.”

Contact Us:

If you want to learn more about trademarking your title, feel free to contact us. We are here to guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have. Reach out to us today for expert assistance and support.