Applying and registering for a trademark

[taylor]

I need to apply for and register a trademark for a company name and a logo. DIY, Legal Zoom, or use a trademark attorney? Any suggestions? Personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[SweetSecret]

I need to apply for and register a trademark for a company name and a logo. DIY, Legal Zoom, or use a trademark attorney? Any suggestions? Personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Actually before you do that you NEED to do some research. Use the government trademark search services to search for similar names & logos, to make sure what you want to trademark can be trademarked.

[taylor]

Yes I have done the search on the ustpo website. But from what I gather even if the name doesn't come up on the search online doesn't mean that somebody hasn't applied for it already. I've even asked around for advice from people I know and all have advised me not to use an attorney, their reason being they'll overcharge you. Albeit most of them have not gone through this process themselves. Even an attorney recommended I do it myself which I thought was odd. She was almost suggesting applying and registering a trademark is a really simple process. She told me all her friends did it by themselves. However she is not a patent attorney herself. My CPA used Legal Zoom for his company name and recommended to me to do the same. I know going the attorney route is the safest route in most people's eyes but I don't want to just deplete a lot more cash if I don't have to. Besides I despise using attorneys...always feel like I'm paying more for their plushy offices and their school school debt. than their services.