Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers about U.S. trademark filing for international applicants.
Yes. Pakistani individuals and businesses can apply for U.S. trademark registration. As a foreign-domiciled applicant, you must be represented by a U.S.-licensed attorney before the USPTO — we help prepare your application and coordinate that attorney representation.
Yes, subject to the same foreign-applicant attorney requirement described above.
Yes, subject to the same foreign-applicant attorney requirement described above.
Yes, subject to the same foreign-applicant attorney requirement described above.
Yes. International applicants can apply, but if you are domiciled outside the United States, USPTO rules generally require representation by a U.S.-licensed attorney.
Not necessarily to file a trademark application. A U.S. LLC may matter for other business reasons, but it does not by itself change your domicile status for USPTO purposes.
Not specifically to file a trademark application. An EIN is a U.S. tax identifier that may be relevant for other business activities.
Not specifically for trademark filing purposes. Whether you need an ITIN depends on other U.S. tax or business considerations.
A business name may function as a trademark if it is used (or intended to be used) to identify specific goods or services and meets the applicable USPTO requirements.
Yes, a logo can be filed as a design mark, or combined with a word mark, depending on how you use it.
A slogan can potentially be registered if it functions as a trademark rather than merely as an advertising phrase or common expression, among other requirements.
TM means "trademark." It can be used to claim a mark for goods even before filing or registration.
SM means "service mark," the equivalent of TM for services.
The (R) symbol means Registered Trademark, and indicates the mark has actually been federally registered with the USPTO.
No. Filing an application does not by itself permit use of the (R) symbol. Generally, (R) is used only after the mark is federally registered.
Our service fee is $150. The USPTO government filing fee is $350 per class. For one class, the estimated total is $500. See our full pricing page for multi-class examples.
Per class. If your application covers multiple unrelated classes of goods/services, the USPTO fee applies separately to each class.
We will flag it during the preliminary or detailed search. You can then decide whether to adjust your goods/services, consider a different mark, or consult a U.S.-licensed attorney for a legal opinion.
An Office Action is a formal letter from the USPTO raising an issue with your application that must be addressed by a set deadline.
A refusal can sometimes be responded to and overcome, and sometimes cannot, depending on the specific facts and applicable law. We cannot guarantee any particular outcome.
Opposition is a formal objection filed by a third party during the publication period, before registration is granted.
It varies — often many months and sometimes longer, depending on USPTO workload, whether an Office Action is issued, and whether opposition occurs. See our timeline page for details.
No. No filing service or attorney can guarantee USPTO approval. Decisions are made solely by the USPTO.
The application is assigned to an examining attorney for review, which may result in an Office Action, followed potentially by publication for opposition and, ultimately, registration or a Notice of Allowance.
Filing a trademark application does not by itself authorize or restrict your ability to sell products — that depends on other legal and business considerations separate from trademark filing.
No. A U.S. federal registration only provides rights under U.S. law.
No. Protection in Pakistan would generally require a separate application with the relevant Pakistani trademark authority.
No. Protection in the UAE would generally require a separate application with the relevant UAE trademark authority.
Not automatically. International protection may require separate national or regional applications, or mechanisms such as the Madrid System where applicable.
In some cases, yes — through an intent-to-use application, which is based on a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce rather than actual current use.
An application filed based on a genuine intention to use the mark in the future, rather than current use. Registration under this basis generally requires later proof of actual use.
A specimen is a real-world example showing how the trademark is actually used in commerce with the relevant goods or services, such as product packaging or a website offering the service.
A legal standard the USPTO uses to assess whether a proposed mark is too similar to an existing mark for related goods/services, such that consumers might be confused about the source.
Ongoing tracking of new trademark filings that might conflict with a registered mark, so the owner can respond if needed. This is separate from our application status monitoring service.