How to Renew Your Trademark: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

Trademarks are like the guardians of your brand’s identity, keeping your name, logo, or slogan safe from those who might try to "borrow" your hard-earned brand recognition. However, trademark registration doesn’t last forever.

Once registered, you must know how to renew your trademark periodically to keep your rights alive. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the trademark renewal process, including what to do if you miss the deadline and why this matters for the continuous protection of your intellectual property.

And don’t worry; renewing your trademark is much simpler than you might think!

Why renewing your trademark is crucial

Trademark renewal isn’t just about maintaining legal protection—it’s about securing your brand’s ongoing success. A trademark gives exclusive rights to your brand’s identity, whether a logo, name, or slogan, and keeps competitors at bay.

If you miss a renewal deadline, you risk losing those rights, which could open the door for others to use your brand assets, even leading to potential trademark infringement claims.

If you’re a trademark owner, renewals are critical to your brand protection strategy. Fortunately, Trademarkia offers a hassle-free trademark search and renewal service to keep your brand secure. Keeping your IP rights intact is vital to staying competitive.

To learn more about the importance of intellectual property, explore our blog on why IP rights matter.

Step 1: Know your trademark’s expiration date

The first step in renewing your trademark is knowing when it expires. Generally, a registered trademark is valid for ten years from the registration date.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will send a reminder before your renewal window opens, but it’s always best to keep an eye on the date. Missing this date could result in extra fees or even the loss of your rights, requiring you to refile a new trademark application.

If you’ve misplaced your registration date, no worries! Trademarkia’s trademark checker can find it faster than you can say, "Where did I put that paperwork?" Check out our step-by-step guide on how to use Trademarkia’s search engine.

Regularly tracking your trademark’s status is as crucial as conducting routine trademark clearance searches to ensure your mark isn’t infringing on others.

Step 2: Submit a declaration of use

Before the ten-year mark, you must file a Declaration of Use, proving your trademark is still in commercial use. For U.S.-based trademarks, this filing is done between the 5th and 6th year of registration.

Failure to submit this can jeopardize your registration. Trademarkia’s trademark attorney services can guide you through this process.

Quick tip: Be sure to keep evidence of your trademark’s use. This could include:

• Product packaging,
• Online listings, 
• Or advertisements featuring your registered trademark.

Step 3: File your renewal application

At the 10-year mark, it’s time to file your trademark renewal application. This renewal ensures continued legal protection for another decade, allowing you to maintain exclusive rights to your registered trademark.

The process itself is straightforward: visit the USPTO website or let Trademarkia handle it for you! Our experienced trademark attorneys ensure that every step of the renewal process is smooth and error-free.

Want more information? Learn more about trademark renewal in our guide: “The Importance of Trademark Renewal: Protecting Your Brand.”

Step 4: Pay your trademark renewal fees

You’ll also need to pay the required fees when filing for renewal.

The cost varies depending on the type of trademark and whether you’re filing in the U.S. or internationally. Staying ahead of deadlines is essential to avoid extra fees, which can accumulate if you miss deadlines.

Trademarkia tracks your trademark application and renewal dates, ensuring you never miss a deadline.

What happens if you miss the deadline?

Life gets busy, and missing a trademark renewal deadline happens. If you do, don’t panic just yet. The USPTO offers a six-month grace period for late renewals, although it has a penalty fee. 

Once this grace period passes, your registered trademark might be canceled.

At this point, you might need to go through the entire application process again, which could take months. If you miss your renewal, it’s best to consult a trademark attorney for advice. Our attorneys specialize in ensuring you regain legal protection.

Avoiding trademark renewal scams

A word of caution: trademark owners often fall victim to renewal scams. Third-party companies may send you fake renewal notices with inflated fees.

Always verify any communication with the official USPTO website or consult with our trusted attorneys to avoid such traps. With our guidance, you can stay protected and on track with your renewals.

Stay alert from fraudulent trademark renewal requests by reading our guide on avoiding trademark scams.

Trademark renewal for international trademarks

Managing trademarks in multiple countries? Trademark renewal requirements vary by jurisdiction, and fees can differ significantly. Under the Madrid Protocol, you can simplify the process by renewing international trademarks in several countries with one application. 

Each country may have unique renewal periods, so understanding the timelines for your trademark registration globally is essential.

Trademarkia's international renewal services ensure that your brand stays protected no matter where you operate.

Simplifying trademark renewals with Trademarkia

Trademark renewal doesn’t have to be complicated, especially when you have expert help. 

Whether you’re renewing in the U.S. or internationally, the process is straightforward when you work with Trademarkia.

We ensure your trademark search, renewal filings, and protection remain secure so your brand can continue to thrive.

So, what are you waiting for? Contact Trademarkia, and let’s keep your brand protected through every renewal!

Glossary of legal terms

• Abandonment – The status a trademark assumes if it is not renewed within the grace period, resulting in the loss of exclusive rights and protections.
• Cancellation – The action taken by the USPTO to remove a trademark from its registry due to missed renewal deadlines, making it available for others to register.
• Declaration of use – A mandatory filing submitted between the 5th and 6th years of registration, verifying that the trademark is still in active commercial use.
• Exclusive rights – The unique right to use a trademark for the specific goods or services it was registered for, sustained through timely renewals.
• Grace period – A six-month extension granted by the USPTO for late trademark renewal, subject to additional fees.
• Intellectual property (IP) – A category of legal rights that includes trademarks, protecting a business’s brand elements such as logos, names, and slogans.
• Madrid Protocol – An international treaty that streamlines the process of renewing trademarks across multiple countries with a single application.
• Trademark renewal – The periodic process of filing applications and paying fees to extend a trademark's legal protection beyond its original registration period.