Trademarks: After Your Mark Is Registered

Trademark registration provides important protection, but it's your responsibility to keep your registration active and enforce your rights.

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trademarks after your mark is registered

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Updated on: August 1, 2025
Read time: 4 min

Trademark registration provides important protection, but it's your responsibility to keep your registration active and enforce your rights. Here are some helpful tips for doing just that.

The USPTO registers trademarks, but it does not enforce them. To keep your registration active, make sure to monitor and enforce your trademark, as well as file the appropriate maintenance documents.

Enforcing your trademark

To maintain strong trademark protection, you must use your mark in commerce, monitor for infringing marks regularly, and take action right away if you suspect infringement. The longer you wait, the harder it may be to stop another company from infringing on your mark.

Monitoring trademark applications. By regularly checking new trademark application filings, you'll know if someone is trying to register a trademark that's similar to yours for a related type of goods or services. And you'll have an opportunity to dispute the registration. You can try to regularly monitor trademark filings yourself on the USPTO website, or you can hire a professional service to monitor new applications and publications of marks that potentially infringe on yours.

Monitoring the internet. Monitoring the internet for infringement may tell you whether another business is using a mark that's similar to yours, even if no formal registration has been filed.

Taking action. If you believe that another business is using a trademark similar to yours in a way that you think might confuse customers, get advice from a trademark lawyer. A lawyer can evaluate your situation from a legal perspective and explain your options, which might include:

  • Filing an opposition to a trademark registration.
  • Sending a “cease and desist" letter that explains your trademark rights and demands that the other party stop using its similar (or identical) mark.
  • Negotiating a resolution with the other party.
  • Filing a trademark infringement lawsuit. Lawsuits can be very expensive and are usually only filed after a letter or negotiations fail.

Keeping your registration active

Trademark registrations can continue indefinitely, but you have to keep using your mark in commerce and periodically file paperwork to keep your registration alive. If you don't file the required forms, your registration will be cancelled. Here's what you need to do:

1. File a Section 8 declaration of continued use and/or excusable nonuse. This shows that you are still using your trademark in commerce or have a good reason for not doing so. You must file the declaration and either (a) submit a specimen showing how your mark is used, or (b) provide evidence and an explanation for why you are not using your mark but still want to keep your registration active. The declaration is due between the fifth and sixth anniversaries of your trademark registration, between the ninth and 10th anniversaries of your registration, and every 10 years after that.

2. File a Section 9 request for trademark renewal. This is due every 10 years, and can be filed in combination with the Section 8 declaration at that time. There is a fee to file both the Section 8 and Section 9 documents. You can file them yourself through the USPTO website, or you can use a trademark filing service to ensure that the forms are completed correctly and filed properly.

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International trademark protection

Your U.S. trademark registration only protects your trademark in the United States. But because the U.S. is a party to international trademark treaties, U.S. registered trademark owners can file a single international application that's the first step to trademark registration in many countries. However, each country will use its own laws and standards to determine whether your trademark can be registered there. Since international registrations are complicated, your best option is to use a trademark lawyer to help.

Transferring trademarks

If you change the name, structure, or ownership of your business, you may need to formally transfer trademark ownership through a trademark assignment. Afterward, a trademark assignment recordation should be filed with the USPTO to ensure that its public records list the correct trademark owner and contact information. Use a trademark service for assignment recordation, or file them electronically through the USPTO website.

Keeping contacts up to Date

The USPTO will email you a reminder when maintenance documents are due, so be sure to keep your contact information up to date with the USPTO. You can submit a change of address form through the Trademark Electronic Application System.

Missing a deadline

If you miss the deadline for filing trademark maintenance documents, you may still have a six-month grace period to submit them—with a surcharge. If it's been more than six months, your registration is canceled and you must file a new trademark application.

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This article is for informational purposes. This content is not legal advice, it is the expression of the author and has not been evaluated by LegalZoom for accuracy or changes in the law.

79 days ago
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Jose is the best.

Jose was very friendly and knowledgeable. He was able to answer my questions and provide me information of next steps to secure my trademark.

Cheryl Cooper
82 days ago
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The knowledge the agent possessed was…

The knowledge the agent possessed was super beneficial to rectify the situation I was having with my trademark. Very professional!

Craig Schsrfman
98 days ago
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Trademark work is great and effecient

Edit from my previous feedback and why i decided to give them 5stars they deserved: LegalZoom's support team was excellent—they addressed my concerns promptly and delivered a great outcome. I truly appreciate their help and want to give a shout-out for an outstanding customer service experience.

Trademark
97 days ago
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Thanks for being so helpful in the…

Thanks for being so helpful in the assist of getting my Trademark filed. -Patrick

Patrick Thompson
104 days ago
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Kevin was able to help me understand…

Kevin was able to help me understand the process needed for filing a trademark. He was clear in his answers and stayed on the phone to help walk through the onboarding.

Asiyah Lites-Rasheed
122 days ago
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Excellent Serviceed them for a trademark application

Used them for a trademark application. Excellent service. Knowledgeable staff. I would absolutely use them again. Probably save thousands by going through them.

Eric Hertz
149 days ago
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Estee was super helpful!

Estee helped me navigate the tricky trademark process. Highly recommend her!

Greg
149 days ago
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Very good and focused answers

I got a very good and focused answer to my trademark questions. Definitely makes me see LZ as the place to go with my legal questions. A+

Chip Humitz
153 days ago
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Help with trademark

Got exactly what I needed to register my trademark

Luci Bromberg
159 days ago
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I had a consultation with an attorney…

I had a consultation with an attorney through LegalZoom concerning the trademark process. and she was very patient and professional. She answered my questions and helped with the ones I had difficulty asking. I appreciated that

Isiah Jones ,jr.
178 days ago
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Strong support for trademark

The trademard support by Nick Belcastro has been excellent.

John Kirk Boyd
185 days ago
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Excellent service

Excellent service! Extremely knowledgeable and helpful in reviewing all the next steps in the process for filing the trademark with LegalZoom.

Brian Mayer
220 days ago
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Excellent Staff/Services

"LegalZoom made trademark filing for my company a breeze. Their system was incredibly user-friendly, and I was impressed by the professionalism of the staff. My attorney was not only knowledgeable but also took the time to answer all my questions and clearly explain the entire process. I felt confident every step of the way. I will definitely use their services again!"

Hedda
216 days ago
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Register Trademark using LegalZoom

The attorney assign to us did an amazing job by answer all our question in a friendly, timely and professional way. The attorney helps by giving us information to mange our account to register our Trademark.

wiltrey sanders
225 days ago
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Excellent experience with Legal Zoom

I have been looking to get my business trademark for a while now and I finally decided to try out Legal Zoom. I had an excellent experience with customer service ready to assist me through the process. The price is much more affordable than going through law offices. I highly recommend to anyone looking to get a trademark.

TheAlphabetshop
227 days ago
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Legally create your trademark with LegalZoom in 2025 and The Years to Come

The lawyer that assigned to me was not only professional and friendly, but patience beyond measure. All questions answered and additional information given to me as well for future services. This call gave me the reassurance I wanted and needed to continue using LegalZoom for future endeavors, and referring my community/platform to do the same.

Kali Harris
244 days ago
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Trademark Process Made Easy

My LegalZoom Trademark attorney, Asha was extremely professional, friendly and knowledgeable. She answered all my Trademark questions and made this process so easy. I felt like I was in good hands.

Virtually Debbie
251 days ago
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Trademark

Right now I use everything Legal Zoom has to offer and I'm so very happy with everything, especially the Trademark process. They were absolutely the best! Highly recommend!!

NicoleK
Rated4.6out of 5 based on23,817+ reviewson

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