“How long does it take to get my trademark approved?” - O.G., NYC Business Owner

So you're thinking about filing a trademark application. 🤔 How long will you have to wait to get your application fully processed?

Nowadays, it can take between 6-9 months for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to send you their first letter ("Office Action") about your application. After you respond to this Office Action, it can take another 12 months for the USPTO to make a final decision.

That's a total of ~18 months! The USPTO issues reports about their backlog (found here: https://bit.ly/3IfuJlJ).

So, is there any way to speed up the process? Yes, by filing a Petition to Make Special. But the threshold for getting this kind of Petition approved is very high. You may have to show copies of civil court documents or cease-and-desist letters to prove that you'll suffer harm unless your application gets expedited. It's tough, but it can be done.

Contact us if you're thinking about filing a trademark application and you've got some questions like this on your mind. Initial consultations are always free, and you'll NEVER get a surprise invoice when you work with us.

Every week we post our answer to one of your questions. So comment below 👇or email us (tkabir@kabirlawny.com) if you want to see your question answered next!

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