You're started. Here's what happens next.

Thanks — your payment is in, held in our attorney trust (IOLTA) account until the work is done. Nothing is filed yet, and your USPTO fees won't be spent until you've seen your risk assessment and told us to proceed.

1. Tell us about your mark

   Watch your email for a link to your questionnaire — the name or logo you want to register, and the goods or services you'll use it with. Plan on about half an hour (it saves as you go), and everything after this step starts from your answers.

2. Conflicts check — usually within 3 business days of your questionnaire

   Law firms are required to check for conflicts before taking on a client. You already accepted our terms of engagement when you signed up; once we confirm there's no conflict, your matter is officially open. If a conflict means we can't take your matter, everything is refunded in full.

3. Your attorney search — usually within 5 business days of opening your matter

   Will Montague personally searches USPTO records for conflicts with your mark and sends you a straight risk assessment.

4. Your decision

   The decision to file is yours. If the assessment comes back high-risk, you'll also have the choice of a refund of the filing portion of your fee or a free second search on a different mark within 90 days.

5. Filing and beyond

   Once filed, you'll get your application serial number and a plain-English report. After that we track your application through registration and email you whenever the USPTO does anything that matters — with what it means and what, if anything, you need to decide.

One thing you can do now: if you're already using your mark, start gathering examples — labels, packaging, website screenshots showing the mark with your goods or services. These "specimens" are required for registration, and having good ones ready is the single best way to keep your application moving.

Questions in the meantime? Email [email protected].