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.
Related Articles from Indie Law
Explore more resources to help protect and grow your brand:
- Can You Trademark Your Own Name?
- What to Do If You Made a Mistake on Your Trademark Application
- You’ve Got Your Trademark Registration: Now What?
- Common Trademark Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- How Long Does the Trademark Process Take?
About the Author
CEO & Founding Trademark Attorney at Indie Law®
Joey Vitale is the CEO & Founding Trademark Attorney at Indie Law, a trademark law firm that helps you get peace of mind knowing you legally own your brand. He and his team are on a mission to be the best brand protectors they can be, and they’ve filed well over 2,500 trademarks. In addition to being an award-winning attorney, Joey is an internationally renowned speaker and the host of the chart-topping podcast, The Passive Income Lawyer. Learn more →