We Stop The Competition
From Raiding Your Business.
Our Job for You
Your business is growing — you’ve worked hard to build it. Maybe you’ve already started branding, or perhaps it’s just now crossing your mind.
The Good News: your customers notice.
The Bad News is that your competition notices, too, and tries to steal your customers away.
We are the trademark lawyers who protect your business from your brand’s predators, so you can relax, grow your sales, and expand your revenue.
What You Need
We provide these U.S. Trademark services to growing businesses and entrepreneurs worldwide:
- Trademark and Branding Strategy
- Trademark Searches (Availability)
- Freedom to Use (Clearance) Opinions
- Trademark Applications
- Office Action Responses
- Statement of Use Filings
- Trademark Renewal
- Trademark Monitoring and Policing
- Trademark Assignments and Recording Change of Trademark Ownership
- Trademark Portfolio Management
- Trademark Opposition
- Trademark Cancellation
- Amazon Brand Management
- Shopify Brand Management
What You Need
We provide these U.S. Trademark services to growing businesses and entrepreneurs worldwide:
- Trademark and Branding Strategy
- Trademark Searches (Availability)
- Freedom to Use (Clearance) Opinions
- Trademark Applications
- Office Action Responses
- Statement of Use Filings
- Trademark Renewal
- Trademark Monitoring and Policing
- Trademark Assignments and Recording Change of Trademark Ownership
- Trademark Portfolio Management
- Trademark Opposition
- Trademark Cancellation
- Amazon Brand Management
- Shopify Brand Management
Our Exclusive Trademark System
Educate, Evaluate & Equip
- Fast Processing
- Confidential Pre-Search Interview Helps Prevent Missteps
- Easy to Follow Classes Mean You’ll Understand Every Step
- Action-Sheets and Checklists
- Federal Trademark Search
- State Trademark Search
- Common Law Trademark Search
- Domain and Social Media Search
- Attorney Consultation / Strategy Session
- Trademark Application Process Budgeting
- Application Status Monitoring
- Status Updates
- It Only Takes 5 Minutes to Get Started
- If We Can’t Help You Get Your Money Back
STEP #1: Educate & Enroll
Free and No Obligation.
Let's get on the same page.
Time to Complete: Less than 1 Minute.
Just like your customers, your brand also has unique needs. After enrolling, we educate each other.
First we learn about you, your business and the goals you have for your brand. Second, you'll learn about the registration process via our proprietary video library and Action-Sheets.
STEP #2 Evaluate
Trademark searches empower us to craft a smart plan.
Time to Complete: 2-7 Days.
Second, we cut-through the lawyer-speak and outline your options in plain English.
When finished, you will have explored what we call "the Two Big Questions":
1. Can You Even Use It? and
2. Can You Own the Rights to It?
More importantly, you'll have a plan you have confidence in.
STEP #3: Equip
Putting your plan into action.
Time to Complete: 2+ Days.
We implement your plan, which typically begins with filing trademark applications. It may also include an Amazon Branding program or Shopify Branding program. If you have immediate needs for enforcement or take-down notices, those start as well.
When complete, your applications are pending.
STEP #4: Examine
The Trademark Office and the Public scrutinize your Application.
Time to Complete: 9 - 24 Months.
It begins with an Office Examination by an Examining Attorney (the "EA"). The EA registers rejections and objections in letters called Office Actions. You must respond to these correctly to keep your application alive. Once (and if) the EA believes that your application is in order, the mark is Published.
Next, the public has the opportunity to examine your mark by registering "Opposition" to your mark's registration. Here's where preparation really pays off, because carelessly filed applications can trigger unnecessary Opposition Proceedings, and these proceedings can be lengthy, and expensive.
STEP #5: Enforce
Building your defenses.
Time to Complete: Ongoing for the Life of the Registration.
Step 5 is a journey of a thousand miles.
After you have secured your registration, under US Trademark Law, to keep it and strengthen it you must 'police it.' Policing is a fancy way of saying that you can't just let anyone use your mark, and it involves four activities:
- monitoring databases and the internet to spot potential infringers
- notifying the likely infringers that you have a registered mark
- telling the competitor-infringers to stop using your mark (to 'cease and desist)
- if necessary, litigating to force compliance with the law
My Story
I Have Over 15 Years of Experience in The Industry
Unlike most attorneys, I’m an entrepreneur — some say a successful entrepreneur. And as much as I enjoy the thought that these colleagues may be right, I certainly wasn’t always a successful entrepreneur. My first shots at starting businesses in college resulted in abandoned patent applications, zero sales and debt (not to mention late homework and shoddy lab assignments). Later, I learned hard lessons as people I trusted blatantly stole my inventions, and suppliers I trusted failed to deliver products. And, through my experience at a large law firm as well as in my own law practice, I’ve seen just about every kind of chicanery imaginable.
What our clients saying
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Larry Davis
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Lisa Chen
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JT Moore
We Stop The Competition From Raiding Your Business.
We Register, Enforce and Defend Your Trademarks With Our Exclusive Trademark Process.
Recent Blog Posts
Trademark Portfolio Management
Trademark Portfolio ManagementTrademark Portfolio Management is a little bit different than strategy. Because in Portfolio Management we narrow the...
Trademark Enforcement: Notices and Cease and Desist
Trademark Enforcement: Notices and Cease and Desist So what can you do if you discover that someone is stealing your customers by using your...
Shopify Brand/ Trademark Strategy
Shopify Brand/ Trademark StrategyIf you sell on Shopify, you must have a Shopify Brand Strategy, and the Shopify Brand Strategy is all about the...
McLean Trademark Lawyer
At Trademark Law USA in McLean, we truly understand the crucial role that trademarks play for businesses. A trademark holds immense value and goes far beyond being a mere symbol; it serves as the cornerstone of brand identity and recognition. Allow me to explain why it is an absolutely vital step for businesses aiming for long term success.
1. Building Brand Recognition and Trust; One of the key advantages of having a trademark is that it allows you to establish a unique identity for your business. When your trademark is well designed and easily recognizable, customers can effortlessly associate your products or services with your brand.
2. Legal Protection and Exclusive Rights; Registering a trademark grants you exclusive rights to use that mark in connection with your goods or services within the registered territory. This legal protection acts as a shield against potential infringers, counterfeiters or competitors who might attempt to exploit the success of your brand. Trademarks serve as a powerful deterrent, preventing others from adopting similar marks that could confuse consumers.
3. National and International Expansion Opportunities; With a registered trademark, your business gains the ability to expand both nationally and internationally. By safeguarding your mark in different jurisdictions, you create a solid foundation for growth beyond just your local market.
4. Asset Value and Brand Equity;
Trademarks hold significant value as assets for businesses and their worth can increase over time as the brand grows and gains recognition. In situations such as mergers, acquisitions or business sales, having a registered trademark adds substantial value to your company. Trademarks also offer opportunities for licensing or franchising, which can generate additional streams of revenue.
• Incontestable Rights; After continuous use and registration for a certain period, trademarks can attain the status of being “incontestable.” This means that the validity of your trademark is unquestionable, providing it with stronger legal protection and making it more challenging for others to challenge its ownership.
• Protection Against Domain Name Issues; Registering a trademark proves extremely valuable when resolving domain name disputes. If someone else registers a domain name that infringes upon your trademark, you have legal options to regain control through established domain dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Maintaining Competitive Advantage; A trademark helps fortify your businesss market position by preventing competitors from diluting your brand or capitalizing on your reputation. Robust trademark protection allows you to confidently invest in marketing and brand development without worrying about losing market impact due to dilution.
• Enhancing Business Value; Ultimately, the strength and recognition of a brand play a critical role in assessing the long term success of a business. Having a registered trademark showcases professionalism and commitment to upholding the integrity of your brand.
Investors and potential partners are more likely to be attracted to a business that has a strong and well protected brand.
• Protection for Design and Innovation; Trademarks go beyond just words or logos; they can also cover product designs and packaging. By registering your product designs as trademarks, you can safeguard your unique and innovative designs from imitators, ensuring that you benefit from your own creativity.
• Peace of Mind; Having a registered trademark provides peace of mind for business owners. It allows you to concentrate on building and expanding your business without constantly worrying about others infringing upon your intellectual property rights.
If you are looking for a McLean trademark attorney, we are here to help.
Q&A
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Looking to Locate Your Business in VA? Here's Why McLean Is A Great Choice!
McLean, VA is a Great Place to Grow your Business
As home to diplomats, top government officials, influential businessmen and the Central Intelligence Agency, it is no surprise that McLean, Virginia ranks as the 3rd wealthiest city in the U.S. And when it comes to trademarks, the Trademark Office next door in Alexandria, VA gives you a local advantage when it comes time to secure your trademark.
In fact, one of the most high-profile trademark cases currently wending its way through the courts has its home in the D.C. area. The Washington Redskins football team, whose stadium is located at FedEx Field in Landover, MD, has been challenged by Native Americans charging six logos and names owned by the Redskins are offensive and should be cancelled proving at once the importance of defending your valuable trademarks.
As the seat of the military intelligence agency in Langley, Virgnia, McLean has an important place in our national story. Named for a former owner and publisher of The Washington Post, John Roll McLean, this eminent town’s military intelligence heritage can be traced to a co-founder, Stephen Benton Elkins, a U.S. Senator and Secretary of War under President Benjamin Harrison who broadened the powers of military intelligence while in that post.
McLean has easy access to Washington Dulles International Airport. The area is also served by major interstate highways and a well-developed local highway system, including the George Washington Memorial Parkway, I-66 connecting to Interstate 81 and I-95 served by the Capital Beltway which runs through the city. Interstate 95 connects the east coast from Maine to Florida and passes through the major cities of Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Richmond, and all the way to Palm Beach and Miami. The Amtrak passenger rail service including business class also traverses the east coast connecting D.C. to major cities from Boston to Miami.
Want Help Growing Your Business? These Organizations Can Help!
Growing a Business in McLean
McLean is not only the home of major employer the CIA, multinational corporations have established headquarters there as well, such as:
Capital One
Mars
Booz Allen Hamilton
Hilton Worldwide
Gannett
Professional, scientific and management careers dominate the employment market. The Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce connects local professionals, advocates for their businesses and provides education to its members. Considered one of the top 20 chambers in the D.C. metropolitan area, it offers many opportunities to gather socially to meet other businesspeople and collaborate with them.
A high-visibility community like McLean is a great place for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) to establish a notable presence, including:
The Johnson Group
Double Helix Learning
Metro Datacom
Concentus
Boone & Sons Jewelers
Does McLean Have Access to World-Class Universities? You Bet!
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Professional and Executive Education near McLean
Marymount University is a Catholic institution with its main campus located next door in Arlington. Other large universities have a campus presence in Arlington and D.C. environs including George Mason University Antonin Scalia School of Law, the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, and the Virginia Tech Research Center in Ballston.
These programs may be of particular interest to you as a businessperson:
- University of Virginia Darden School of Business Executive Education
- University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce
- Marymount University’s School of Business and Technology
McLean's Not a Boring Suburb! Enjoy Shopping, Theatrical Performances, Parks and Top Healthcare Options:
History and Culture in McLean
In an area of great wealth, prestige and strong historical ties to our nation’s founders, great shopping, tourism and entertainment are found. The Alden Theater presents theatrical performances and is also available for business meetings and family gatherings while the Emerson Gallery exhibits artistic visual works. For nature enthusiasts, Turkey Run Park is a getaway with 700 acres of woods, hiking trains and picnic groves.
McLean residents have local access to quality healthcare providers including Arlington’s Virginia Hospital Center, a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.
Thrasher Trademark Law Can Secure Your Business and Brand in McLean, VA
Trademark attorney Steven Thrasher has been serving clients in the Washington D.C. area — including McLean, VA — and across the nation since 2002. In that time, our lawyers have helped hundreds of entrepreneurs escape the competitive pressures of commodity businesses. In addition to filing trademark applications, Steve solves intellectual property problems related to federal administrative issues involving trademarks, patents, copyrights, and infringements.