Scott Thomas
Trade Mark Lawyers
Total Trademarks was founded in 2012 by Trademark Attorney Scott Thomas, Esq. He also owns the full-service law practice Thomas Law Firm PLLC where he counsels clients in other areas of intellectual property law, startup law and business law. Mr. Thomas and has personally registered over 1000 trademarks and is licensed to practice law by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York and by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. He works directly with each client by phone, email, and in person at our office in Downtown New York City.
Welcome to Total Trademarks! We are a boutique trademark law firm in New York City. Our licensed Trademark Attorney professionally drafts and files each trademark application to ensure the best chance of approval and quickest possible turnaround.
Our flat fee trademark services include trademark registration, trademark consultation, trademark clearance searches, trademark renewals, office action review, office action response services, trademark extensions, trademark monitoring, statement of use filings and many other international trademark application services. We also provide assistance to other Attorneys regarding advanced aspects of trademark law. Our flat fee services are available online, by phone and in-person at our office in New York City. Contact us to schedule a free phone consultation or click the links below to find our more about our flat fee trademark application services.
Josh Gerben, Esq.
Trade Mark Lawyers
Josh Gerben is a nationally recognized trademark attorney. In 16+ years of practice, he has represented a wide variety of clients including bootstrapped entrepreneurs, private equity-backed start-ups, public companies, professional athletes, and even sovereign governments.
Josh has assisted clients with protecting trademark rights in just about every industry known to mankind. This includes fashion, jewelry, cosmetics, food, chemicals, industrial machines, tools, nutritional supplements, medical equipment, vehicles, furniture, greeting cards, books, toys, business consulting, financial services, construction services, telecommunications, manufacturing, educational services, IT services, software, apps, SaaS products, medical services and more.
In 2008, Josh opened Gerben IP without a single client and with the goal of providing big-firm-quality legal services at an affordable rate. As he was raised in a family of entrepreneurs, Josh wanted to test his own entrepreneurial skills by starting a business.
Since founding the firm, Josh has overseen the registration of 8,000+ trademarks for clients in the United States and in 30+ countries around the world. In 2021, he was cited as the trademark attorney who filed the most trademark applications for U.S.-based clients with the USPTO.
In addition to his trademark registration practice, Josh assists clients with all of their trademark needs, such as monitoring, change of ownership, portfolio management, registration renewals, infringement, and more. He has helped to enforce and defend over 500 trademarks.
Taso Pardalis
Trade Mark Lawyers
Taso Pardalis is a founding partner at Pardalis & Nohavicka and currently serves as the Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Ante, Inc., where he oversees a global portfolio of business, investment assets, endorsements, brand holdings and organizations of social impact. Their comprehensive portfolio spans various sectors including technology, sports, entertainment, healthcare and finance.
Taso is a Sports, Media, and Entertainment Lawyer Admitted to the New York State Bar in 2005, and in New Jersey. He is authorized to practice in the United States District Court for both the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the Supreme Court of The United States (SCOTUS).
Taso’s cases and clients are frequently featured in major national and international media outlets and he has been peer nominated as a “SuperLawyer” in New York which is a title bestowed to less than 5% of the attorneys in the entire state.
Taso earned his law degree from New York Law School, focusing on Intellectual Property, Entertainment, Corporate and Business Law, Maritime and Real Estate Development.
During his 17+ years at Pardalis & Nohavicka Taso managed the firm’s robust commercial and corporate practice, intellectual property practice, commercial litigation practice and criminal defense practice.
Taso is also a professor of sports law at the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment, and he has been published in the New York Law Journal.
Additionally, Taso is in involved in various professional and community organizations including sitting on the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) General Practice committee, serving as Vice-Chairman of the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC) and actively contributing to The New York City Police Athletic League (PAL) and the Ronald McDonald House of New York (RMHNY) as well as many other charitable organizations.
Faith Mitton, Esq.
Trade Mark Lawyers
Faith Mitton is a trademark attorney representing businesses of all sizes from many different industries. She serves clients from all over the United States through her law practice.
As Managing Attorney of Mitton Law, she diligently supports her clients in crafting & implementing well-designed legal strategies to protect the names, taglines, and logos that represent their brands’ unique identity.
She became a lawyer to provide entrepreneurs with a better legal experience because, for most people, the prospect of hiring a lawyer conjures up really unpleasant thoughts.
But Faith’s goal is to make the process of getting legal help as simple, stress-free, and transparent as possible because the right legal protections are too important to pass up.
Faith is also an enthusiastic and sought-after speaker. One of her greatest joys is to simplify legal concepts so that entrepreneurs can easily grasp the knowledge they need to protect themselves. Her presentations have covered a wide variety of topics, including choosing the right business structure, commercial leasing basics, asset protection strategies for real estate investors, incorporation and tax exemption for nonprofits, trademark fundamentals, and copyright protections, among others. She has taught at in-person events, via online virtual summits, and as a guest on several podcasts.
Robert L. Greener
Trade Mark Lawyers
We provide all our clients with partner level interaction. Providing excellent personalized service and precise, optimal advice in order to find customized legal solutions from a 360° perspective is our goal. Even though we are based in New York, our firm has international experience handling clients from the UK, Canada, Russia, Germany and beyond. Our clients have come to expect personalized service and the effective resolution of their legal issues. With over 35 years of practical experience in the legal and business world we can deliver on the promise of “giving the best advice”.
We are a New York City based law firm specializing in intellectual property and general business law in the fashion, arts, entertainment, corporate and media fields with almost 30 years experience. Specialties: Trademark and Copyright Practice, Entertainment Law, Film and Music, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Licensing, New Media, Brand Development and Marketing, Transactional matters, Construction Law and Contractor Negligence, Corporate Formations, Infringement and General Litigation experience, with an International Clientele.
We provide all our clients with partner level interaction. Providing excellent personalized service and precise, optimal advice in order to find customized legal solutions from a 360° perspective is our goal. Even though we are based in New York, our firm has international experience handling clients from the UK, Canada, Russia, Germany and beyond. Our clients have come to expect personalized service and the effective resolution of their legal issues. With over 35 years of practical experience in the legal and business world we can deliver on the promise of “giving the best advice”. Call for an appointment today!
Shahrina Ankhi-Krol, Esq.
Trade Mark Lawyers
Shahrina Ankhi-Krol, Esq. is a distinguished attorney and the founder of Ankhi-Krol Law. Her legal journey began in 2003, as a legal assistant at a prestigious law firm in Buffalo, New York. She continued to gain valuable experiences in the legal field in various capacities, such as a paralegal, extern, law clerk, and associate attorney, allowing her to gain unparalleled knowledge of the legal industry and stand out amongst her peers. Her subsequent work alongside a New York State Supreme Court Judge and the Attorney General of Michigan added to her remarkable legal acumen and dedication to her craft.
Ms. Ankhi-Krol’s extensive experience in handling complex legal cases has distinguished her in her field. Her unwavering passion for the field of law and commitment to her clients has made her one of the go-to lawyers for small businesses seeking comprehensive legal advice.
The founding of Ankhi-Krol Law was a dream come true for Ms. Ankhi-Krol, who sought to build a law firm that provides accessible, custom-tailored legal solutions for entrepreneurs. As a business owner herself, she understands the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in starting, maintaining, and growing their businesses. Her expertise and experience enable her to provide personalized legal advice that always prioritizes the unique needs of her clients. From custom contract drafting to intellectual property protection, business formation to negotiations, Ms. Ankhi-Krol works closely with her clients to help them achieve their business goals.
Apart from her legal expertise, Ms. Ankhi-Krol is a recognized figure in the small business world. Her numerous presentations at business conferences, expositions, educational institutions, and interviews on podcasts and articles, along with her frequent appearances on Law and Crime underscore her dedication to educating the public about the importance of legal issues for small businesses.
J.D. Houvener
Trade Mark Lawyers
J.D. Houvener is a Registered USPTO Patent Attorney who has a strong interest in helping entrepreneurs and businesses thrive. J.D. leverages his technical background in engineering and experience in the aerospace industry to provide businesses a unique perspective to their patent needs. He works with clients who are serious about investing in their intellectual assets and provides counsel on how to capitalize their patent in the market.
His background in business and experience as an engineer and patent attorney empowers him to clearly communicate to a broad range of clients about their immediate and long-term needs for patenting in order to protect assets, leverage opportunities, and limit liabilities. Some key areas of the patent prosecution practice are: patentability searches, patent applications, office actions, infringement opinions, post-grant actions and consultation on patent strategy and portfolio management.
J.D.’s passion for business and technology started well before he began his legal career. He worked as an engineer at Boeing for nearly 10 years. He spent his time at Boeing in payloads design, regulatory compliance, systems integration and project management on the new 787 airplane. J.D. brings this experience earned at the cutting edge of technology to his clients by recognizing the complexities and subtleties of the problems being solved today.
Academically, J.D. has earned a law degree and an MBA from Seattle University. He earned his law degree in the evening program, while working full-time at Boeing. He focused his coursework on intellectual property law and clinic courses where he applied his newfound knowledge to help small businesses. Even so, J.D. found time to take a leadership role as the secretary for the Intellectual Property Law Society at the University and to study for and pass the Patent Bar while in law school. Prior to starting his legal education, he earned his B.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Washington and then an MBA from the Albers School of Business at Seattle University where he focused on entrepreneurship and lean operations management.
Michael J. Feigin
Trade Mark Lawyers
Michael Feigin, Esq. has been handling patents, trademarks, and copyrights for startups, medium size, and large companies since 2004. With hundreds of patents issued and a 4.8 rating on Google, Mr. Feigin is personable, knowledgeable, and provides both excellent service and high quality work. Michael J. Feigin, Esq. drafts patents in a variety of fields. This include software and technology patents, medical patents, mechanical patents, some electrical patents, and other fields includes chemical and design. He made and maintains this website and loves all things technology . . . and American history. View his full list of 400+ patents issued here.
A graduate of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey and Seton Hall Law School in Newark, New Jersey, Mr. Feigin is a licensed Attorney in New Jersey, New York and at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Further information about attorney, Michael J. Feigin, may be found on LinkedIn.
The law firm of Michael J. Feigin, Esq. prides itself on providing personal service and quality work. The patent process and trademark process are explained step by step on our website and in person. Wherever possible, rates for patent and trademark prosecution are flat rates, agreed upon ahead of time, based on the subject matter and level of complexity. The firm’s website provides ample information to make sure the client is an informed client, whether filing a domestic or international patent or trademark.
Do I Need a Trademark to Sell on Amazon?
When considering selling products on Amazon, many entrepreneurs wonder whether they need a trademark. The answer is nuanced and depends on various factors, including your business model, the nature of your products, and how you plan to protect your brand. This article will explore the implications of trademarks for Amazon sellers, the benefits of registering a trademark, and whether it is essential for success on the platform.
Understanding Trademarks
A trademark is a distinctive sign, logo, word, or phrase that identifies and distinguishes the source of goods or services from those of others. Trademarks can be registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) or established through common law rights by using them in commerce. While common law trademarks provide some level of protection, registered trademarks offer broader rights and legal advantages.
Common Law vs. Registered Trademarks
- Common Law Trademarks: These arise automatically when a business begins using a mark in commerce. They provide limited protection within a specific geographic area but do not offer the same legal presumptions as registered trademarks.
- Registered Trademarks: These are granted after a formal application process with the USPTO. They provide nationwide protection, legal presumptions of ownership, and the exclusive right to use the mark in commerce.
Selling on Amazon Without a Trademark
It is possible to sell products on Amazon without a trademark. Many sellers start their businesses using generic or unbranded products. However, operating without a trademark can pose risks:
- Brand Recognition: Without a trademark, you may struggle to establish brand recognition among consumers. A recognizable brand can lead to customer loyalty and repeat purchases.
- Vulnerability to Copycats: If you do not have a trademark, competitors can easily replicate your products or branding. This makes it challenging to differentiate your offerings in a crowded marketplace.
- Limited Control Over Listings: Without a registered trademark, you may have less control over your product listings on Amazon. Other sellers could potentially sell similar products under your brand name, leading to confusion among customers.
Benefits of Having a Trademark
While it is not mandatory to have a trademark to sell on Amazon, there are several compelling reasons to consider obtaining one:
1. Enhanced Brand Protection
A registered trademark provides legal protection against unauthorized use of your brand by others. This means you can take legal action against infringers who attempt to use your mark or something similar that could confuse consumers.
2. Access to Amazon Brand Registry
Enrolling in Amazon’s Brand Registry program requires an active registered trademark. This program offers several advantages:
- Increased Control: Brand owners can manage their product listings more effectively, ensuring that their branding is consistent across the platform.
- Protection Against Counterfeits: The Brand Registry provides tools to help identify and remove counterfeit listings more efficiently.
- Enhanced Marketing Tools: Participants gain access to advanced marketing features like A+ Content and Sponsored Brands ads, which can help boost visibility and sales.
3. Legal Presumptions
Having a registered trademark establishes legal presumptions of ownership and validity in case of disputes. This makes it easier for you to defend your rights if someone challenges your mark or attempts to infringe upon it.
4. Nationwide Protection
A registered trademark provides nationwide protection rather than being limited to specific geographic areas. This is particularly beneficial for online sellers who may ship products across state lines.
5. Increased Value of Your Business
A registered trademark adds value to your business by establishing brand equity. If you decide to sell your business in the future, having a recognized trademark can make it more appealing to potential buyers.
Steps to Obtain a Trademark
If you decide that obtaining a trademark is the right move for your Amazon business, here are the steps involved:
1. Conduct a Trademark Search
Before applying for registration, conduct a comprehensive search to ensure that no existing trademarks conflict with yours. This can help avoid potential legal issues down the line.
2. File an Application with the USPTO
You can file an application online through the USPTO website. The application will require details about your mark, including its description and how it will be used in commerce.
3. Respond to Office Actions
After filing, the USPTO may issue an Office Action if there are any issues with your application. Responding promptly and adequately is crucial for moving forward in the registration process.
4. Wait for Approval
Once all requirements are met, you will receive approval from the USPTO, granting you federal trademark protection.
Conclusion
While it is possible to sell on Amazon without a trademark, having one significantly enhances your ability to protect your brand and grow your business effectively. A registered trademark not only provides legal protections but also opens doors to valuable resources like Amazon’s Brand Registry program.Investing in a trademark may require time and financial resources upfront but can yield substantial long-term benefits in terms of brand recognition, customer loyalty, and overall business value. As competition on platforms like Amazon continues to intensify, establishing a strong brand identity through trademark registration becomes increasingly important for sellers aiming for sustainable success in e-commerce.