Housekeeping first: I'm an attorney, but I'm not your attorney — no attorney-client relationship comes free with this blog post. The law is fact-specific and changes often, so treat this as general information and a solid starting point, not legal advice. For your actual situation, talk to a lawyer. Here's the whole thing in three sentences: a trademark protects your brand identity — names, logos, and slogans that tell customers who a product comes from. A copyright protects

The lawyerly fine print, minus the fine print: I'm an attorney, but I'm not yours — no attorney-client relationship springs into existence because you read a blog post. Legal outcomes depend heavily on specific facts, and the rules (and fees!) change regularly. Treat this as general information, not legal advice, and talk to a lawyer about your actual situation. Here's the direct answer: in 2026, filing a federal trademark application costs a minimum of $350 per class of good