Frequently Asked Questions

What do I have to do to maintain my trademark after it is registered with the United States Trademark Office?

To maintain your trademark registration, you must file your firstmaintenance document before the end of the 6th year after the registration dateand other maintenance documents thereafter. Your registration certificatecontains important information on maintaining your federal registration. The UnitedStates Trademark Office does NOT send reminder notices when the documents aredue. Forms for filing the maintenancedocuments are located at:

https://www.uspto.gov/teas. Rights in a federally registered trademark can last indefinitelyif you continue to use the mark and file all necessary maintenance documents atthe appropriate times. You must file:


• Declaration of Continued Use or Excusable Nonuse under Section8; and

• Combined Declaration of Continued Use and Application forRenewal under Sections 8 and 9


A Section 8 declaration is due before the end of the 6-year periodafter the registration date or within the 6-month grace period thereafter.  Failure to file this declaration will resultin the cancellation of the registration.

A combined Section 8 and 9 must be filedbefore the end of every 10-year period after the registration date or withinthe 6-month grace period thereafter.  Failureto make these required filings will result in cancellation and/or expiration ofthe registration.