The MARQ blog
How to Trademark a Business Name (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)
A licensed trademark attorney's step-by-step walkthrough of how to register your business or product name with the USPTO — search, classes, filing basis, cost, and timeline.
Read →How Much Does a Trademark Cost? (2026 Fees Explained)
A transparent, attorney-written breakdown of what a federal trademark really costs in 2026 — USPTO government fees, legal fees, hidden surcharges, and how to keep the total predictable.
Read →Trademark Classes Explained: How to Pick the Right One
A plain-English guide to the 45 international trademark classes — what they are, how many you need, the classes founders file in most, and how to avoid the costly wrong-class mistake.
Read →Intent-to-Use vs. Use in Commerce: Which Basis to File
A trademark attorney explains the two USPTO filing bases — intent-to-use vs. use in commerce — including specimens, the Statement of Use, priority dates, and how to lock in a name before you launch.
Read →Trademarks and Amazon Brand Registry: The Seller's Guide
How a federal trademark unlocks Amazon Brand Registry — what Amazon requires, the IP Accelerator pending-mark route, filing in the right class, and why sellers register early to stop hijackers.
Read →Responding to a Trademark Office Action: A Practical Guide
What a USPTO office action means and how to respond — procedural vs. substantive refusals, the response deadline, beating likelihood of confusion, and what an attorney response costs.
Read →Understanding Trademark Registration: How It Really Works
A plain-English walkthrough of federal trademark registration — what it protects, the spectrum of distinctiveness, TM vs SM vs ®, the stage-by-stage process, timeline, and maintenance.
Read →Trademark vs. Copyright vs. Patent: Which Do You Need?
Trademarks, copyrights, and patents protect completely different things. A trademark attorney explains what each covers, why you can't copyright a name, the logo overlap, and how to match protection to your asset.
Read →5 Common Trademark Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
A trademark attorney breaks down the five most common and costly trademark mistakes — skipping the search, wrong class, weak names, missed deadlines, and trusting a form over a lawyer — and how to avoid each.
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