Intellectual Property Lawyers for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Hello! This is Attorney Damien Bosco. My law office is in Forest Hills, Queens County, New York City. My practice covers the New York City metropolitan area and Long Island. In some situations, I also handle matters throughout New York State. If your phrase contains common jewelry terms, registering it may be challenging. One suggestion is to check the USPTO Database for similar trademarks. If other businesses have brands using the same common word in their brand name, that could give an indication that you may still be able to use it in your brand name. Nonexclusive use means that the word or phrase can be used by other parties and is not solely owned or controlled by the trademark holder. Consult with a trademark attorney for guidance on the registration process and the viability of your chosen phrase.

When you're selling your business in Texas and that sale includes registered trademarks, getting the Trademark Transfer Agreement right isn’t just paperwork. It’s what protects you and the buyer from serious legal headaches. Here’s what you need to understand about how it all works and what to include. FIRST, THE LEGAL BASICS Let’s get clear on where the law comes into play. If your trademarks are registered with the USPTO, federal law applies, specifically 15 U.S.C. § 1060. If you’ve registered marks at the state level in Texas, those fall under Section 16.061 of the Texas Business & Commerce Code. A lot of businesses have federal trademarks, but some have both, and each needs to be handled the right way. Here’s a critical point: you can’t transfer a trademark by itself. Legally, it has to go with the goodwill tied to it. That means the reputation, customer trust, and market recognition associated with your brand. Courts take this seriously. If you try to assign a trademark without transferring the goodwill behind it, that assignment can be ruled invalid. The trademark has to stay connected to its original source, or the legal protection starts to fall apart. KEY PARTS OF THE AGREEMENT Identifying the Parties and Background Info Start simple. Spell out who’s selling and who’s buying, using full legal names and business addresses. Include a quick explanation in the recitals that you own the trademarks and plan to transfer them as part of the business sale. Detailed Trademark Descriptions List every trademark included in the transfer. For federal marks, include things like registration numbers, any pending application serial numbers, filing dates, and the international classes they fall under. For Texas marks, include the state registration numbers and any other relevant details. Don’t forget common law marks either. If you’ve been using a brand name or logo in business without registering it, it still has value and legal protection. The Assignment Clause Itself This is where the actual transfer happens. The language needs to make it crystal clear that you’re transferring all rights, title, and interest in the trademarks, and just as important, the goodwill that goes with them. That’s not optional. For federal trademarks, this clause has to meet the standard set by 15 U.S.C. § 1060. For Texas marks, the law requires that the transfer include “the goodwill of the business in which the mark is used.” Be sure to include language that talks about transferring the reputation, customer recognition, and market value of the marks. That’s what keeps the assignment legally valid. Purchase Price and Who Pays for What Spell out what the trademarks are worth as part of the overall deal. If the value is rolled into the full business sale price, say that clearly. Also note who’s responsible for any filing fees with the USPTO or Texas Secretary of State, legal costs, and whether there’s any money going into escrow. Warranties and Representations You’ll need to confirm that you’re the sole owner of the trademarks, that they’re valid and enforceable, and that there are no liens, disputes, or infringement claims you know of. You can qualify some of these with “to the best of your knowledge,” especially if you're not sure about everything. The buyer will also need to make some promises, like having the ability to maintain and protect the trademarks going forward. Indemnification Terms This is how you divide up risk. You should agree to cover any trademark issues that started before the sale, such as pending legal disputes or past infringement claims. The buyer takes on anything that happens after the transfer. Be sure to include who will handle any legal defense and how costs are covered. What Happens After the Sale You’ll probably need to sign additional paperwork later to finalize the transfer, especially for filing purposes. You also need to agree to stop using the trademarks after closing. If you’re going to help the buyer with trademark maintenance or recordation, lay that out clearly. Cooperation after closing is often what makes the legal side go smoothly. WHAT IF THERE'S A TRANSITION PERIOD? If you’ll still be involved in operations temporarily or helping during a handoff, add quality control provisions. This matters because if the buyer is using the trademark on the same goods or services you used to provide, the quality needs to stay consistent. Without oversight during that period, trademark rights can actually be lost. That’s called naked licensing, and it’s something you want to avoid at all costs. RECORDING THE ASSIGNMENT Federal Marks To make the transfer legally solid, you’ll need to record it through the USPTO Assignment Center. Right now, it costs $40 for the first trademark and $25 for each additional one in the same document. You have three months from the assignment date to record it to protect against third-party claims. Texas Marks For state trademarks, the process goes through the Texas Secretary of State. The fee is $25, and Texas gives you 90 days to record the assignment. That’s different from the federal timeline, so don’t mix them up. Common Law Marks Since these aren’t registered anywhere, there’s no official filing to do. Just make sure your agreement clearly spells out the transfer and ties it to goodwill. That’s your legal foundation for common law marks. A FEW EXTRA LEGAL PROTECTIONS Include standard contract language too, such as Texas law as the governing law, a venue for disputes, integration clauses, and a method for resolving disagreements. You might want to get the agreement notarized. It’s not legally required in Texas, but it adds a layer of security. If you're staying involved during the transition and helping the buyer keep up with trademark deadlines, make sure that’s written into the deal. COMMON PITFALLS TO AVOID Don’t treat all your trademarks the same. Some may be federal, some state, and some common law. They each need different handling. And never forget the goodwill piece. Without it, your trademark transfer isn’t valid. Also, make sure you stay on top of deadlines. You have three months to record federal assignments and 90 days for Texas. Missing either one could leave the buyer exposed to claims from someone else down the road. THE FINAL ANALYSIS Getting this agreement right helps avoid future disputes and protects the trademark value you’ve built over time. Trademarks are often one of the most valuable pieces of a business, so it’s worth taking the time to spell out exactly what’s being transferred, what the responsibilities are, and what happens next. Because trademark law is detailed and the consequences of mistakes can be serious, it’s smart to work with an experienced IP attorney. They’ll help you match the agreement to your specific situation and avoid costly errors. Mistakes in this area can lead to total loss of rights. If you've built a brand worth selling, make sure it's protected when you pass it on.

Without seeing the handbook it would be difficult to answer your question. Generally, what an employee creates for the Company is Company property, unless you have an agreement with them that states otherwise. It would also be helpful to know if you are an employee or independent contractor. Sometimes Company's give employee handbooks to independent contractors but the classification of whether you are an employee or independent contractor is important to this analysis.

I can do that. I am an IP lawyer over 20 years experience in this area. I work on SAAS and similar agreements daily.

Running a trademark search before registering your business name isn’t legally required, but it’s one of the most important steps you can take to avoid future problems. Registering your name with the state forms your business entity, but it doesn’t give you trademark rights. Trademark rights come from use in commerce and, if you file with the USPTO, registration at the federal level. Why a Trademark Search Matters The central legal test in trademark law is whether a name is likely to cause consumer confusion. That means you don’t need to copy someone else’s name exactly to get into trouble. Even something that looks or sounds similar in the same or related industry could be enough. If you skip the search and move forward, you risk: • Infringement claims: Another company could demand you stop using the name and, if necessary, sue for damages. • Forced rebranding: If you’ve already invested in your logo, website, signage, or marketing materials, being forced to change your name can be expensive and disruptive. • USPTO rejection: If you apply for a federal trademark, the USPTO will run its own search. If they find a confusingly similar mark, your application will be denied and you’ll lose the filing fees. A well-documented example is when small businesses open under a catchy name, only to receive a cease-and-desist letter from a national chain using a similar name in the same space. Even if you’re in a different state, a federal registration gives that company priority rights nationwide. A proper trademark clearance search should cover more than just identical names. You’ll want to check: • Federal database (USPTO TESS): This is the official record of all registered and pending federal trademarks. • State trademark databases: Many businesses register marks only at the state level. • Common law sources: Unregistered marks can still have legal protection. Check Google, industry directories, social media, and domain names. • Similar variations: Look for phonetic equivalents and alternative spellings, such as “Kwik” for “Quick,” or slight wording changes that could still cause confusion. Professional Assistance You can run an initial search yourself at no cost, but these searches have limits. For example, the USPTO database won’t flag marks that are spelled differently but sound alike, or names with similar meanings. Attorneys and specialized search firms use tools that uncover those kinds of risks. While hiring a professional costs more upfront, it’s often far cheaper than litigation or a rebrand. Limitations A search doesn’t guarantee that your name will never be challenged. Trademark law involves judgment calls about how similar marks are and whether they overlap in goods or services. Still, a thorough search puts you in a much stronger position to defend your choice and move toward federal registration if you want nationwide rights.