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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.

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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