Trademark & Brand Protection
What is trademark and brand protection?
Trademark and brand protection is the legal practice of securing exclusive rights to the words, logos, sounds, and trade dress that distinguish a business in commerce. In the United States, the Lanham Act of 1946 governs registration through the USPTO. In Canada, the Trademarks Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. T-13) governs registration through CIPO. International protection runs through the Madrid Protocol, which extends one base application into 130+ countries.
StarGuard Law, admitted in California, Ontario, and Quebec, runs the full trademark lifecycle for creators, founders, and agencies. That lifecycle covers clearance searches before filing, federal registration in both countries, Office Action responses to examiner refusals, watch services for confusingly similar marks, cease-and-desist letters on infringement, and licensing agreements for new categories or territories. For AI-era brands, the firm covers deepfake impersonation, AI-generated lookalikes, and platform takedowns through each provider's brand-protection program. The services below trace that lifecycle from first search to cross-border enforcement.
Trademark Search & Clearance
Comprehensive search across registries and common law sources.
Trademark
RegistrationFile and prosecute trademark applications in the US and abroad.
Office Action
Responses & AppealsRespond to office actions, objections, and examination refusals to keep your application on track.
Trademark Enforcement & Cease-and-Desist
Cease-and-desist letters drafted and issued to enforce your rights and stop infringement before it compounds.
Trademark Monitoring & Watch Services
Monitor trademark registries and the web for conflicting filings and infringing uses before they become costly disputes.
AI Brand Infringement & Deepfake Defense
Combat AI-generated counterfeits, synthetic impersonation, and unauthorized brand usage by AI systems.
International Trademarks & Madrid Protocol
Expand your brand protection into international markets using Madrid Protocol and targeted foreign filings.
Trademark Licensing
Structure trademark licensing agreements that grow your brand revenue, protect quality control, and preserve your registered rights across licensees and territories.
Common Questions
How do I register a trademark in Canada and the US?
You file separate applications with the USPTO (United States) and CIPO (Canada) — the two systems are independent. We manage both filings simultaneously to protect your brand in both markets with coordinated deadlines and a unified prosecution strategy.
Book a free discovery callCan someone use my brand name without permission?
Without a registered trademark, your legal options are limited and expensive. Registration gives you the exclusive right to use the mark in your goods or services category across the jurisdiction, and creates a public record that deters infringers before problems start.
Book a free discovery callHow long does trademark registration take?
In the US, the USPTO typically takes 8–12 months from filing to registration when there are no objections. In Canada, CIPO typically takes 18–24 months. We file strategically to lock in your priority date immediately — including intent-to-use applications when your brand is not yet in commercial use.
Book a free discovery callDo you handle trademark searches and clearance before filing?
Yes. Clearance is the most important step in the trademark process — filing without it is the leading cause of rejection. We run knockout searches across the USPTO and CIPO databases, plus common-law databases for unregistered uses, and deliver a written clearance opinion before you commit to a name or design.
Book a free discovery callCan you respond to USPTO or CIPO Office Actions?
Yes. Office Actions are formal objections from the trademark examiner; most applications receive at least one. We handle the full response: legal argument, evidence submission, and any narrowing of goods or services needed to overcome the objection. Missed deadlines cause abandonment, so we track every step.
Book a free discovery callHow much does a trademark application cost?
USPTO government fees start at $250 per class; CIPO fees start at $458 per class. Our legal fees are quoted per matter, not hourly, so you know the total cost before we start. A single-class US application with our representation typically runs $1,500 to $2,000 all-in. Multi-class and multi-jurisdiction filings are quoted on request.
Book a free discovery callDo you handle international trademarks beyond US and Canada?
Yes. Through the Madrid Protocol we file in 130+ member countries from a single base application. For non-Madrid jurisdictions we coordinate with foreign counsel. For brands with global ambition we typically map a three-jurisdiction priority plan (often US, EU, and China) before any first filing.
Book a free discovery callLaunching a brand?
Brand Locked covers your trademark search and clearance, USPTO application, and monitoring through registration — one flat fee, no billing surprises.
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