Can a UK solicitor really get me a US trademark?
Yes, via the Madrid Protocol: an international application filed through the UKIPO designating the United States, which the USPTO then examines like a domestic application. Filing needs no US attorney. If the USPTO raises objections, US rules require a US-licensed attorney to respond, and we appoint one of our US associate firms, still inside one instruction to us.
How many countries can one application cover?
The Madrid system covers well over one hundred members, including the US, EU, China, Japan, Australia, Singapore and the UAE. You pick the designations; one application, one renewal date, one point of management.
What are the risks I should know about?
Two main ones, and we raise them before you file. First, the international registration depends on your UK base mark for five years; if the base falls, the designations are exposed (central attack), though they can be transformed into national filings. Second, US examination is strict on goods descriptions, so US designations attract objections more often than most countries; we draft specifications with that in mind from day one.
Is Madrid always the right route?
No. For one or two countries, direct national filings are sometimes cheaper and stronger; for wide coverage, Madrid usually wins on cost and management. The written filing strategy compares both for your actual markets before anything is filed.
What does it cost?
Our professional fee is fixed and quoted in writing before you pay anything. WIPO and national official fees vary by country and class and are set out separately, to the penny, on your quote, verified against the current WIPO fee calculator at the time of quoting.
