When a law firm is worth it, and when it is not.
We do one thing at a fixed price. A firm does many things at an hourly rate. For a straightforward filing that difference is most of the cost. For a dispute, it is most of the value.
| Filing and prosecuting a US trademark | My Trademark Vault | Online filing sites | Traditional attorney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing cost | $199 flat, plus the USPTO fee shown separately | Low headline price, add-ons priced separately | Commonly hourly, or a higher flat fee |
| Office action response | $299 flat, whatever the refusal turns out to be | Priced separately, often more than the filing | More hours as complexity rises |
| Who does the legal work | A licensed US attorney | Often software plus a paralegal | A licensed attorney |
| Knowing the cost upfront | Yes — the number does not move | Usually, until something goes wrong | Rarely, if billed hourly |
| Deadline tracking | Included | Usually yours to manage | Usually included |
| Litigation and TTAB disputes | Not our service — we refer you out | Not offered | Yes, and this is where firms are worth it |
| Strategy for a large portfolio | Not our service | Not offered | Yes |
| Outcome guarantee | None. The USPTO decides | Sometimes implied | None |
A comparison of service models, not of named providers. Terms vary between individual firms and platforms - always check what any provider actually includes before you buy, including ours.
Four situations where we are the wrong choice.
We would rather lose the sale than take money for something we do not do well. If any of these describe you, engage a firm directly.
Someone has sued you, or you need to sue
Federal court infringement work is litigation. It needs a litigator, not a filing service.
You are in a TTAB opposition or cancellation
Adversarial proceedings with pleadings, discovery and evidence. Very different from answering an examiner.
You are filing across many countries at once
Multi-jurisdiction strategy, Madrid designations and local counsel coordination is portfolio work.
The mark is central to a deal
If a registration is being diligenced in a funding round or acquisition, get advice priced to that stake.