As the US Patent and Trademark Office does not remind trademark holders that their trademarks are expiring, property owners need to pay attention to the expiration date. The expiration date is usually between five and six years from the time of your first trademark rights.
Because trademark renewals can be challenging, it’s wise to use professional services like Dennemeyer Trademark Renewal Services to ensure everything files before your deadline lapses. If you don’t renew your trademark in time, the Patent Office will cancel your federal trademark registration, and your IP will be vulnerable.
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Find your official trademark date
You can find your trademark date by searching the US Patent and Trademark Office website. In the upper left, check the “Trademark Search” menu. Then, look for your results. The website will show your trademark data sheet with your trademarked logo. The website will clearly label your trademark registration date on the facts sheet.
Complete the necessary paperwork
Once you determine your registration date, you should set a range for your renewal time. Before you complete any renewal paperwork, find your trademark’s serial number – which will have a forward slash in it. The renewal document is Section 8, and the government offers an online form.
To complete the paperwork, you’ll have to share your trademark in an image file. All the government needs is a screenshot from your website or an internet banner ad. The government charges a $100 fee to submit Section 8.
Penalties for late filing
The US Patent and Trademark Office realizes that many trademark owners forget to renew their ideas. Forgetful trademark owners get a six-month grace period after the sixth year, but the late fees and the registration fees become expensive if you miss your window. If you forget to renew your trademark and want to keep it, you will have to pay $100 extra as a late fee to keep your brand protected.
Your trademark will be dead if you fail to submit the $100 fee during the late grace period. To re-register it, you’ll have to start at the beginning, which will cost more than the $200 combined registration and late fee.
Ten-year renewals after the first one
After you’ve successfully renewed your trademark between the fifth and sixth year, the next renewal is ten years later. You’ll have to renew your trademark every ten years and pay the registration fee.
The government requires Section 8 and Section 9 to keep the trademark every ten years. Section 8 has a $100 fee, and Section 9 has a $400 fee. The ten-year renewal charge is $500. Like the first renewal, the ten-year program does have a grace period. With two required forms, the late fee is $100 each, for a total of $200.
Wrap up
You can save a lot of money if you keep track of your trademark renewal dates. You can add them to your smartphone calendar or your scheduling software, so you can get reminders when the date arrives. Renew the trademark on time or early, so you save $100 the first time and $200 the second.
