Trademark Engine adds attorney-assisted Statement of Use filing support

Trademark Engine has launched an attorney-assisted Statement of Use service to help businesses clear a key USPTO post-filing hurdle after a trademark application receives a Notice of Allowance. The offering is aimed at applicants who are already using their mark in commerce and need legal review before submitting proof of use.

Why it matters: - A missed or incomplete Statement of Use can delay a trademark application or cause it to be abandoned. - The new service is designed to help intent-to-use applicants move from approval to registration with fewer filing errors. - The offering adds legal review to a step that determines whether a trademark application can advance.

What happened: - Trademark Engine launched an attorney-assisted Statement of Use filing service earlier this month. - The Houston-based online trademark and brand-protection platform says the service is already drawing strong customer traction. - The service is built for applicants who have received a Notice of Allowance from the USPTO and have begun using their trademark in commerce.

The details: - A Statement of Use is required after the USPTO approves an intent-to-use application for publication and issues a Notice of Allowance. - Applicants must file an acceptable Statement of Use or request an extension within six months. - The filing must show when the mark entered commercial use. - The filing must include an acceptable specimen showing the mark in use with the listed goods or services. - Acceptable specimens can include product packaging, labels, online sales pages or materials showing branded services. - The service includes review of the trademark application and Statement of Use information. - The service includes attorney review of the proposed filing. - The service includes review of specimens submitted as evidence of use. - The service includes preparation of the Statement of Use. - The service includes electronic submission to the USPTO. - The service includes guidance on filing requirements and deadlines. - Swyft Legal, LLC, an affiliated law firm, provides the legal services tied to the offering.

Between the lines: - Trademark Engine is packaging a technical USPTO requirement into a guided service for applicants who want support after the application stage. - The move suggests demand for post-filing assistance, not just initial trademark searches and applications. - The product also reflects how much weight the USPTO places on documentation and timing in intent-to-use filings.

What's next: - Applicants who have not started using a mark by the deadline may need to request an extension instead of filing a Statement of Use. - Eligible applicants can seek additional six-month extensions, subject to requirements, filing limits and fees. - Trademark Engine is likely to keep expanding post-filing support as more applicants reach the notice-of-allowance stage.

The bottom line: - Trademark Engine is trying to reduce one of the most failure-prone steps in the trademark process by combining filing help with attorney review.