Description of the Small Business Legal Clinic's
Trademark Application Assistance

Description of the Service
    What is the Clinic:

    • The FIU College of Law Small Business Legal Clinic provides free assistance to small businesses and nonprofits.  The Clinic provides services ONLY to permanent residents of the State of Florida

    Cost:

    • The services are free except for a one-time administrative fee of $25 (the payment is made on-line with a credit card following the initial interview)

    Who Provides the Service:

    • The assistance is provided by 3rd year law students working under the close supervision of an experienced attorney

    Becoming a Client  

    • To be eligible for assistance a client must be a resident of the State of Florida.  To apply send an email to the Clinic's Director (John Little) at johnlittle@fiuclinic.org -  In the message briefly describe the legal assistance that you need.  Include your telephone number.  Someone will then contact you to learn more about the assistance you are requesting  The Clinic reserves the right to decline particular requests for services.

    Role of the Clinic in Trademark Registrations

    • The Clinic asks its clients to educate themselves on trademarks by reading the information page created by the Clinic entitled "Trademark Basics"

    • A participating 3rd year law student is assigned to assist each client.  Typically the client is asked to complete and return a "Trademark Questionnaire" that will provide most of the information needed for the registration application.

    • All of the work is done by the 3rd year law student but the actual registration applicaiton will be signed and submitted by one of the licenced attorney supervisors working for the Clinic.  The filing fee will be paid using the Client's credit card.

    • Amount of Government's Filing Fee:  The amount of the filing fee can vary depending on how many trademarks are being registered and how broad of a range of goods or services that the client wants the trademark to cover.  Typically the fee for an application for a single trademark covering a single "class" of good or services is $350 (add an additional $350 for each additional class)

    No Guaranty
    • The Small Business Clinic does not guaranty that particular trademark registration applications will be approved by the government.  An application might be rejected for any number of reasons.  CLICK HERE the view a page on the government's website that provides information on why particular applications might be denied.

    • Registrations will be rejected by the government if the mark is too similar to one that has previously been registered.  The Clinic will NOT conduct a comprehensive search for previosly registered marks

      • The Clinic recommends that its clients conduct a search for previously registered trademarks that might be similar to the one that they want to register.  CLICK HERE for a page that describes how to do that.

      • An applicant can pay for a professional trademark search.  -  LegalZoom provides one such service that is generally well regarded and is reasonably priced.