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Trademark registration

Get a proper trademark set up for your business

Our attorneys will help you from the start to the finish as you get your trademark.

UgX 2,000,000 + filing fees

Why our offer is exactly what you need

Working with our attorneys will increase your chances of approval when they guide you through the trademark registration process in a simple and affordable manner. Let us help you:

Save time & money

With an attorney working alongside you, you eliminate uncertainities allowing you to minimise and even eliminate losses. It is affordable, reliable and professional.

Attorney guidance

Trademark attorneys offer advice at every stage, including filing and navigating roadblocks. Attorney assistance is proven definitely increases your chances of successfully registering your trademark.

Experience you can trust

Our team of attorneys is well versed and experienced at filing and registering trademarks. You can sit back and relax knowing that results will be delivered.

Our Guarantee

If your first trademark is reject by the patent office, we will help you get a second at no extracharges.

Start your trademark registration in three simple steps

Our attorneys will make it far easier to protect your brand. Working with our attorneys will certainly and definitely increase chances of your trademark being accepted by the patents and trademarks authorities.

Tell us about your trademark

Simply answer some questions about your trademark and your business, and an attorney will get in touch about next steps.

We will do a search & report back

A comprehensive trademark search will be carried out to make sure nothing similar is in use. If there are potential issues, we'll search a second mark for free.

File your paperwork

In the event that the attorney conforms with you that all is done, they'll file with the patent and trademark office.

What is a trademark?

Trademarks identify your products and services as distinctly belonging to your brand, distinguishing you from competitors. You can register a trademark for different types of intellectual property including your business name, product name, tagline, logo, symbol, or design. A registered trademark must be used in commerce to provide real protection against anyone who wants to copy you. Registering a trademark can be a complicated process, but attorneys can walk you through the steps and file your application.

What does a trademark mean?

A trademark means that a business name, brand name, tagline, logo, symbol, or design is registered with the patents and trademark office, and that its use by others is restricted. Registering a trademark is a legal process of providing protection against competitors who want to copy your branding.

Trademark versus copyright

Copyrights and registered trademarks help protect one's intellectual property but are usually for different things.

Copyright

Copyrights protect creative works

Copyrights cover creative works such as stories, poems, song lyrics, movies, and even software code.

Copyright is automatic

As soon as you create a piece of art or pen the lyrics of a song, you establish ownership. There is a legal process that you can—and should—use to gain better legal protection.

Copyrights expire

A person's copyright lasts for the length of their life plus 70 years. There are different rules for pieces that are created anonymously or under a pseudonym.

Trademark

Trademarks protect brands

Trademarks are used to protect brand names, business names, product names, logos, and slogans. They ensure that a brand can use its assets to build recognition and differentiate itself.

Trademarks need to be registered

While you gain some protection as soon as you start using your brand name and logo, you need to register a trademark with the patents and trademark office to really protect your brand.

Trademarks can be renewed

As long as you renew your trademark—after the first five years, then every 10—it will not expire.

Trademark a phrase

Slogans, a motto, or a tagline can help improve your brand recognition. To prevent other companies from using your phrase, you can register a trademark for anyone of them by starting with a comprehensive search. However, not every phrase can be trademarked, not everyone can trademark a phrase, and registration does not provide complete protection. A trademark attorney can advise you on the best next steps for registering a trademark for your particular phrase.

Trademark a name

Your application must include the following:

The name and address of the mark's owner

The name you want to protect

The goods or services that you want to register your name for

Whether your name is already being used in business ("in commerce") or you haven't started using it yet ("intent to use")

A label or a package (the "specimen") that shows your name in use if you're filing your trademark as "in commerce." (If you file as "intent to use" you will need to provide your specimen later and pay additional fees.)

How to register a trademark for a name and a logo.

You can register a trademark for a logo that includes your name, but the logo and name together will be considered one trademark. If you want them protected individually, you'll need to file two applications. Using your logo does automatically give you common law trademark protection but for full legal protection, you should file a trademark application. There are many nuances in the trademark registration process so it's always helpful to get guidance from a trademark attorney.

What trademarking does

Makes it legal

Build a powerful brand that's yours alone with the ® symbol.

Enforce your rights

Be empowered to legally claim your unique branding.

Own your brand

Secure the exclusive rights to your names, slogans, and logos.

Defend what's yours

Make it easier to sue competitors who steal your trademarks.

Stand out

Create a brand as unique as you, knowing it can be preserved.

Stop copycats

Deter competitors from stealing your branding—and profiting from your reputation.

What can and cannot be trademarked

What can be trademarked

What you can trademark

A name like Google

A logo like the google logo

A slogan like "don't be evil"

What can't be trademarked

A song, book, film, or other original creative work. Get a copyright instead.

An invention like a technical process, machine, manufactured good, or chemical formula. Look into a patent.

Common reasons a trademark gets rejected

To avoid delays in the trademark registration process, here are some potential roadblocks to trademark registration you should be aware of:

You can't register a trademark for non-business purposes.

You can't register a generic or descriptive name, as your trademark name has to be distinctive or unique in some way to be approved.

You can only trademark a brand name that you're using in business or that you intend to use in business in the near future.

The name can't create a likelihood of confusion among consumers.

Trademarks can be rejected when your name is too similar to another registered mark or one that's pending. This is because consumers could get confused and mistakenly believe they come from the same source. That's why every trademark application must specify the type of goods or services where that trademark will be used.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still go on to register my trademark even after finding one that looks like it?

Oftentimes no, because it could create confusion. But if the other mark is used for different products or services, it might be possible because consumers may not be confused about who sells what.

Do I register my business name and logo separately?

Yes. Usually patent and trademark offices allow one trademark, that's one name, one logo, or one slogan per trademark application. You can register a logo that includes your business name, but then the design and the text together are considered one trademark. If you want them protected individually, you'll need to file two applications as you compete the trademark registration process.

Can I use a ™?

You can use a ™ on your logo while you pursue the trademark application process. Doing so lets others wishing to trademark the same thing know that you intend to pursue a trademark. Once you've completed trademark registration and your trademarks are approved, you can replace the ™ with the registered trademark symbol, ®.

Should I register my trademark?

Yes, you should register your trademark to protect your business or brand assets. Using them and having common law protection is a great start but doesn't give you the legal protection that you have after trademark registration is complete.

How many trademark classes do I need to register in?

Depending on what you sell, trademark registration can involve multiple classes or just one class. Usually patent and trademark offices put all products and services into 45 classes. If you own a restaurant, you provide a service in class 43 (food services), but if you also sell cookbooks and teach cooking at the restaurant, you may also want to register in class 16 (paper goods) and class 41 (education and entertainment services). Usually, your trademark protection is limited to the classes listed in your application.

Is there a chance my trademark could get rejected?

Yes. Your trademark might be rejected if there's a chance consumers could confuse it with another trademark. For example, if your business name sounds too similar to another business name in the same industry. Involving an attorney in the trademark registration process can help avoid some of these challenges.

How long will it take to register my trademark?

Ideally, the trademark application process—including time waiting to hear from the registering agency takes six to 12 months if you're using your trademark in commerce.

After review of your application within a few months, it is then either sent with an office action with questions or concerns, or your trademark is approved for publication. If your trademark is published and there are no objections by the public within 30 days, you're done with registration and you officially have a registered mark.

If you're not yet using your mark in commerce, the trademark application process can take longer. After making it through the previous steps, the patents and trademarks office will grant a Notice of Allowance, which says they'll register your mark once you provide proof of use in commerce through a Statement of Use. Once that's submitted and approved, your mark is officially registered.

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