The trademark timeline for most applications is around 13 months. It takes over a year because the USPTO receives over 600,000 applications each year, and every trademark application is reviewed by an examining attorney.
Although the trademark timeline is made up of several steps and phases, it isn’t as bad as it looks. In fact, understanding the timeline can help simplify the trademarking process.
What is a typical trademark process timeline?
The following is a typical USPTO trademark timeline for an application that the USPTO initially approves:
Search and filing – timeline 0 months. A search will help you determine if anyone else has already trademarked your name or logo.
Examiner approves the application – timeline: between 8 months: The USPTO will review your application about 8 months after it is filed. If the examining attorney does not find any issues, the examination step ends and your application will be approved.
Publication – timeline: about 3 months: After the examining attorney approves your application, Your application will be published in the Official Gazette for a 30-day opposition period, giving the general public an amount of time to review your trademark and oppose it if they find any issue with it.
How long does it take to get a trademark approved?
The time it takes to get any trademark application registered depends on several factors, including:
• the complexity of your application,
• the quality of your application,
• how the USPTO examiner reviews your application,
• the number of office actions that may be required to resolve all issues, and
• whether you respond to the office actions quickly.
Still, a solid time estimate is between 12 to 18 months.
A couple of great resources:
This is a complicated area of trademark law. Here are two in-depth guides that do a great job of explaining the trademark process in more detail: