A trademark is intellectual property that may be transferred or sold. The law permits the transfer or sale of a trademark by means of a legal document called an Assignment. A properly executed assignment transfers all rights from the existing owner to another person (referred to as the Assignee). When the trademark is transferred, the Assignee becomes the new owner of the trademark and has the same rights as the original owner. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) records all assignment documents and any document that affects title. Documents that affect title include, but are not limited to, mergers, changes of names, security agreements, various liens, licenses, probate documents, and bankruptcy petitions.
Trademark assignments can be filed electronically. The Electronic Trademark Assignment System (ETAS) enables the user to create and submit a Trademark Assignment Recordation Coversheet by completing on-line web forms, attaching the supporting legal documentation as TIFF images for submission via the Internet and submitting the fee for recordation. Assignment or Name Changes filed electronically will be processed and recorded within hours of the submission. ETAS can be accessed through the USPTO web site at http://etas.uspto.gov/.
Please note that with all assignments, the assignment information provided by the user will be recorded as provided and will not be verified or modified by the USPTO.
For trademark assignment information, you may visit the USPTO web site at www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/opr/index.html. For additional information on filing a trademark assignment or documents affecting title, please call the Assignment Division between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time on normal business days at 703-308-9723.
The USPTO Public Search Facility maintains assignment ownership records. The Public Search Facility, located on the first floor of the Madison East building at 600 Dulany St., Alexandria, VA 22313 , is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Assignment information is also available at the Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries throughout the United States.
To access the Trademark Recordation Form for assignments, go to www.uspto.gov/go/forms. The forms may be printed, filled out and mailed in. Please note that with all assignments, the assignment information provided by the user will be recorded as provided and will not be verified or modified by the USPTO.