Put the next deadline on the calendar.
DBA helps review the registration record and prepare maintenance filings within an agreed scope. Start with your registration number, current use, and any ownership changes. Filing requirements differ for standard U.S. and Madrid-based registrations.
EXPLORE THE PROCESS
Choose the registration type.
These are filing windows, not a personalized deadline calculator. Confirm dates against the actual registration and any applicable rules.
Standard U.S. registration
01REGISTRATION DATEKeep evidence of ongoing use
Retain current examples showing use with the registered goods or services. Keep ownership and contact information accurate.
02BETWEEN YEARS 5–6File the Section 8 declaration
Submit the required declaration of use or excusable nonuse, evidence, and fees. An optional Section 15 declaration is separate and has eligibility requirements.
03BETWEEN YEARS 9–10File Sections 8 and 9
Submit the use declaration and renewal application with the required evidence and fees.
04EVERY 10 YEARS AFTERWARDRepeat the maintenance and renewal filings
The next windows are years 19–20, 29–30, and so on. Check the record well before each window closes.
Madrid-based U.S. registration
01U.S. REGISTRATION DATETrack two different records
U.S. maintenance and international renewal use different filing systems and can have different anniversary dates.
02U.S. YEARS 5–6, 9–10; THEN EVERY 10 YEARSFile Section 71 with the USPTO
File the required declaration and evidence for the U.S. extension of protection.
03EVERY 10 YEARS FROM INTERNATIONAL REGISTRATIONRenew through WIPO
Renew the international registration with WIPO separately. A USPTO Section 71 filing does not replace international renewal.
Check the goods and services, not just the date.
Maintenance filings must accurately reflect use. Review what is still sold under the mark, retain suitable specimens, and address goods or services no longer in use. A six-month grace period generally follows the required U.S. maintenance deadlines, with additional fees; do not plan to rely on it.
Bring these to the conversation
- Registration number and certificate
- Current examples of use for the relevant classes
- Any ownership or name changes
- Goods or services that have changed or been discontinued
Questions worth asking
Will I receive a reminder?
The USPTO sends courtesy reminders, but timely filing remains the owner’s responsibility even if a reminder does not arrive.
Can an expired registration simply be restored?
If required maintenance is not filed by the applicable deadline and grace period, the registration can be canceled or expire. A new application may be necessary.
Is Section 15 required?
No. A declaration of incontestability is optional and subject to legal requirements. It does not substitute for mandatory maintenance filings.
When must I maintain or renew a federal trademark registration?
For most non-Madrid registrations, the first use declaration is due between years five and six after registration. A combined use declaration and renewal is due between years nine and ten, then every ten years. A six-month grace period carries extra fees. Madrid-based registrations have separate U.S. Section 71 and WIPO renewal obligations. Check the specific record rather than relying on a reminder.
Can I renew a registration for products I no longer sell?
Do not claim ongoing use for goods or services that are no longer supported by the facts. Review the full registration before filing and address deletions or any legally supportable excusable nonuse. The USPTO may audit a maintenance submission and request proof beyond the initially selected specimen. Unsupported claims can put the registration at risk.
How does DBA charge for trademark portfolio management?
Portfolio management is billed at our current hourly rates. That includes separately scoped reviews of multiple marks, ownership records, renewal planning, brand expansion and transaction-related trademark issues. Contact us with the list of marks, registration numbers and business priorities so we can define the work. This is outside the $2,700 single-mark application package.
How can I tell whether a trademark invoice is genuine?
Do not pay simply because a notice uses your serial number or looks official. Trademark records are public, and misleading solicitations can copy those details. Compare the notice with the official record and ask your attorney before paying an unfamiliar service. The USPTO publishes examples of common scams and misleading offers.