Slide with the title Brown Family Law Case Study: How Indie Law Secured a Trademark for a Legal Practice with a Common Surname, featuring the Brown Family Law logo and abstract circular graphics on a blue background.
April 9, 2025

Case Study: Brown Family Law – Overcoming Surname Challenges to Trademark a Legal Brand

When Marco Brown, the founder of Brown Family Law, decided to trademark his business name, he turned to Indie Law for expert support. His firm, an established Utah-based LLC focused on divorce and custody cases, had been using the name “Brown Family Law” since December 2022. Although the business was already registered as an LLC, securing a federal trademark registration was the next key step in protecting the brand.

Here’s how Indie Law helped overcome the legal and procedural hurdles to successfully register the trademark.

Challenges: What Made This Trademark Application Complex?

1. Generic Surname Issues (Genericity):
The surname “Brown” raised red flags with the USPTO for being too common. Names that sound generic or widely used often face additional scrutiny, especially when distinctiveness is unclear.

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Did you know?

Without Trademarks, You Have ZERO Rights To Your Brand.

We’re talking business names, logos, slogans… even podcast titles. Lots of entrepreneurs don’t protect their trademarks until it’s too late.

So we made a short, free video to help you avoid the biggest, most dangerous mistakes that business owners make.

Learn More