Gerben Law Firm was founded by trademark attorney Josh Gerben in 2008. Since that time, he and his experienced team have registered thousands of trademarks from clients across the country. Gerben Law Firm has a physical office in Lititz, just north of Lancaster. We provide professional trademark services to individuals and businesses of all sizes (locally & nationally). Whether you are starting an Etsy shop in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, or growing your manufacturing firm outside Mount Joy, Gerben Law Firm is here to assist you.

Federal Trademark Registration for Your Business

• Testimonials
• Top Questions Asked
• Common Misconceptions
• Number of Trademarks Registered (in Lancaster, PA)
• Trademark Services Offered
• Additional Information

Testimonials from our Clients in the Lancaster Pennsylvania Area

“I had the pleasure of working with Josh on a trademark. I appreciate his upfront pricing and attention to detail. He makes sure you are well informed and will answer your questions thoroughly. I look forward to working with Josh again for my future trademark needs.”

– Tony Diehl
CEO / Founder at Stickable Media | Leader in Internet Marketing, Online Branding & Social Media – Near Lancaster, PA

Top 4 Questions Lancaster Businesses Have About Obtaining a Trademark

• What is a trademark?
  • Anything that represents your brand in the marketplace can be a trademark. Common trademarks include business or product names, logos, and slogans, but even sounds, smells, and colors can be protected through trademark registration.

• Do I need to work with an attorney?
  • The USPTO doesn’t require U.S. applicants to work with an attorney, but they strongly encourage it. Applications submitted with the help of a trademark attorney are often more thorough, and applications are drafted to provide the broadest range of protection. These applications are also more likely to be approved! In fact, a recent study by the University of North Carolina found that trademark applications submitted with the help of an attorney are 50% more likely to be approved.

• What are Office Actions?
  • The United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, often issues Office Actions throughout the registration process. There are many reasons to receive an Office Action. Often, the USPTO is asking for clarification or additional materials. Sometimes, the Office Action is notification that your application has been rejected. Whatever the reason, it’s extremely important to respond appropriately and in a timely manner. If you’ve received an Office Action from the USPTO, contact us to determine your next steps.

• What should I do if I think someone is infringing on my trademark?
  • If you think you’ve found potential infringement, it is best to contact a trademark attorney. Your attorney will examine the case and determine the best course of action. In many instances, a cease-and-desist letter is all that is needed, but occasionally more formal legal action will need to be taken.

Common Misunderstandings about Filing Trademarks for Lancaster Businesses

• I registered my trademark with the State of Pennsylvania, so I do not need to register with the USPTO.
  • Registering with your state won’t hinder your federal registration, but it won’t provide full protection either. If you wish to expand your business outside the Lancaster area, you will need to obtain a federal trademark registration by filing with the USPTO. A federally registered trademark will give you the presumption of nationwide validity in all fifty states, and will help you in legal proceedings outside Pennsylvania.

• My U.S. trademark will protect my brand in other countries.
  • Unfortunately, your federally registered trademark will not be protected outside the United States. To register your trademark in another country, you’ll need to file with that country’s trademark office. If you do business in other countries, you should strongly consider registering your trademark internationally.

• Once I register a word, no one else will be able to use it.
  • This is not necessarily true. The USPTO will reject another trademark application if there could be a likelihood of confusion in the marketplace. In many situations, however, it’s possible for two businesses to use the same trademark without the possibility of confusion. For example, Delta is a trademark used by both an airline and a faucet manufacturer. Since consumers aren’t likely to confuse the two businesses, they are free to use it. Contact Gerben Law Firm if you are unsure whether another business may be infringing on your mark.

• I did my own Google search of my trademark, so I don’t need a search done by a trademark attorney.
  • A simple internet search, like one done through Google, will likely not be comprehensive enough to determine whether a mark is available for registration. In fact, most search engines will only return exact matches, though many trademark disputes arise from marks that may be confusingly similar, not exact matches. Trademark attorneys have access to a more sophisticated search software that will reveal both exact and similar matches to your trademark.

• The symbols “TM” and “®” mean the same thing.
  • These symbols are each used to represent a trademark at different stages of registration. The ® shows that a trademark has been federally registered. Don’t use this symbol until your mark has been approved by the USPTO. You may be anxious to so, but it’s important to know that using the ® symbol before your mark has been registered is a violation of federal law and could lead to your application being cancelled. While you wait for approval from the USPTO, you are free to use the ™ symbol.

The Number of Trademarks Registered by Lancaster Businesses (by Year)

How many trademarks have Lancaster, PA businesses registered over the years? Gerben Law Firm collected the following data.

*data was gathered from the USPTO’s public database

Types of Trademark Services We Offer

• Trademark Search Services
• Trademark Registration Services (filing services, application services)
• Trademark Renewal Services
• Trademark Monitoring Services (trademark protection services)
• Trademark Office Action Services
• Trademark Portfolio Management Services
• Trademark Opposition Proceeding Services
• Trademark Enforcement / Litigation Services

Additional Information on Trademark Registration for Lancaster Businesses

Lancaster is a city rich in history and entrepreneurship, which makes it a great place to start a business. While you may be busy choosing your location, hiring staff, and advertising your new venture, don’t forget to protect it utilizing trademark registration services.

Picture this scenario: Erin has worked as a teacher for years, and she’s recently decided to open a preschool in Lancaster, which she plans to name Maplewood Academy. She gets right to work, choosing the perfect location, furnishing classrooms, and hiring teachers. With so much to do, she decides to wait on trademark registration. After all, no one in the area is using the name she’s chosen for her preschool.

Unfortunately, that decision ends up costing Erin both time and money. A few months after the preschool opens, she receives a cease-and-desist letter in the mail. A school with several locations in the Midwest goes by the same name, and because they registered the name with the USPTO years before, they are well within their rights to ask Erin to rebrand her business.

Gerben Law Firm understands the pressures of opening a new business. Working with a trademark attorney allows you to focus on growing the business, while we focus on protecting it through trademark registration. Contact Gerben Law Firm today to learn more about our trademark registration services.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania Address

Gerben Intellectual Property
1555 Highlands Dr, Suite 120
Lititz, PA 17543