Protecting your trademark
Growing · Business & product← Setting up Trademarks
Checked 25 Oct 2026, 06:07 UTC
A registration lasts only if you keep filing. In the US that means a declaration between years 5 and 6, and a renewal every 10 years.
How do you keep a US registration alive?
File these on time; miss the last grace day and the registration is canceled.
| When | What to file |
|---|---|
| Between years 5 and 6 | A declaration that you still use the mark (section 8) |
| Between years 9 and 10 | The declaration plus a renewal (sections 8 and 9), $650 per class |
| Every 10 years after | The same again |
| Missed a deadline? | A 6-month grace period, for an extra fee |
When can you use the ® symbol?
Only after your mark is registered. Before that, you can use TM for goods or SM for services, even without applying.[3]
How do you protect your name on platforms?
Use each platform's own process; none lets you reserve names in advance.
How do you protect it in other countries?
With WIPO's Madrid System: one application and one set of fees covers up to 133 countries. You need a national or regional application or registration first.[6]
Where else should you claim your brand name?
On the domains and handles a trademark doesn't cover. Check it against the registers, the .com and handles at once.