Answers to the questions we hear most.
Trademark, copyright, monitoring, enforcement, and pricing — straight answers from licensed U.S. attorneys.
What can be trademarked?
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Words, logos, slogans, sounds, colors, and trade dress that identify the source of a good or service.
How long does USPTO registration take?
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Average 10–14 months from filing to registration. Office actions add 3–6 months per round.
What does TM vs. ® mean?
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TM is a common-law claim usable any time; ® is reserved for federally registered marks.
Do I need a U.S. attorney?
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Foreign-domiciled applicants must use one. U.S. applicants don't have to — but attorney-filed apps measurably outperform DIY.
How long does registration last?
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10 years, with maintenance filings between years 5–6 (Section 8) and renewal at 10 (Section 9).
Do I need to register my copyright?
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Copyright exists at creation, but federal registration is required to sue and to claim statutory damages.
What can be copyrighted?
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Original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium — books, software, music, images, video, choreography.
Can I copyright AI-generated work?
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Only the human-authored portions. The Copyright Office requires meaningful human authorship for protection.
How fast is the Copyright Office?
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Standard processing 6–9 months. Special handling available for $800 government fee with 5-day turnaround.
Can I register multiple works at once?
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Yes — group registration covers up to 750 photos or up to 50 unpublished works in one application.
How does monitoring work?
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We scan USPTO, marketplaces, domains, and social handles daily, alerting you to confusingly similar matches.
Can I send my own DMCA notice?
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Yes — but improperly drafted notices can expose you to §512(f) misrepresentation liability.
What if a counter-notice is filed?
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We evaluate and either negotiate, withdraw, or proceed to federal court for an injunction within the 10–14 day window.
Does monitoring include international?
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Watch+ and Enterprise tiers cover Madrid jurisdictions and major foreign registries.
Are government fees included?
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No — government fees are billed at cost separately from our flat service fee.
Do you offer refunds?
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Full refund within 30 days if we haven't filed. After filing, government fees are non-refundable per USPTO rules.
Do you offer payment plans?
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Yes — Professional and Enterprise tiers offer 3-month no-interest plans.
Are there discounts?
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25% off for verified non-profits. Volume discounts above 10 marks/year.
Three ways to reach us
Free 30-min call
Book a strategy session with a registered IP attorney.
hello@assiduous.legal — answered within 4 business hours.
Phone
+1 (800) 555-0142 — Mon–Fri 8a–8p ET.
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Common IP terms in plain English
Section 2(d)
USPTO ground for refusing a trademark based on likelihood of confusion with an existing mark.
TEAS Plus
Lower-cost USPTO filing tier with stricter formal requirements.
Madrid Protocol
International treaty allowing a single filing to extend to 130+ member countries.
TTAB
Trademark Trial and Appeal Board — the USPTO's quasi-judicial body for opposition and cancellation.
§512(c)
DMCA safe harbor procedure for issuing takedown notices to online service providers.
Statement of Use
Filing required for intent-to-use applications once the mark is in actual commerce.
Ready to protect your brand?
Book a free 30-minute consultation with a USPTO-licensed attorney.
Schedule a Call