Time is money, as they say, and for Amazon sellers, waiting to get the trademark required for Amazon brand registry isn’t just frustrating, it costs money. Sitting idly by for over a year cuts into revenue you could be making. In this article, I will show you step by step the fastest and most affordable way to get a trademark without paying thousands for a lawyer or using the IP accelerator. I will walk you through the entire process, from finding the cheapest lawyer to correctly filling out the trademark form on Amazon. Let’s dive in!
Why Should You Apply For Amazon Brand Registry?
There are numerous benefits to registering your brand on Amazon’s brand registry, including increased listing metrics, security, customer service, listing page options, and marketing opportunities.
For starters, registered brands have access to a registered brand portal which allows them to see detailed product analytics beyond what regular sellers can see, including popular search terms and customer behavior data.
Registered brand listings are also more protected from hijackers as it’s more challenging for them to steal listings. Amazon has automation systems in place to remove suspected hackers or inaccurate content. Reporting violations is also streamlined for registered brands.
Additionally, registered brands have more opportunities to showcase their product on their listing page with “A+ content” like rich text and images, videos, brand-enhanced content, and customizable page layouts with features like Q&A sections. A great example of A + content is the JavaPresse manual coffee grinder product description shown below and their accompanying store page. Multi-page product stores are a complimentary part of the registry program.
Beyond enhanced content, registered brands have access to advertisement opportunities like headline ads that appear at the top of the product listings. Lastly, as a registered company, you can take advantage of the Vine program, allowing you to get up to thirty long-form product reviews from Vine testers to bolster your listing and build credibility.
How To Get A Trademark & Apply For Amazon Brand Registry
The first thing you need to do before registering your brand on Amazon is getting a trademark. A trademark is a symbol, word, or words legally registered to represent a company or product. It’s wise to trademark your brand name and logo to prevent others from using it, though Amazon only requires one trademark to register. To get started, you have a few options:
Option 1 – Visit USPTO to research trademark names and register for a trademark yourself for $250 without the need for a lawyer. The downside here is that it can take a lot of time to fill out the forms and between six to twelve months to actually get your trademark.
Option 2 – Visit Trademarkia to search for trademarks and have a lawyer register your trademark for a fee. The fee ranges from $500 – $1,000 so, it’s pretty expensive and can also take six to twelve months.
Option 3- Use Amazon IP Accelerator. IP accelerator helps businesses more quickly obtain intellectual property (IP) rights and brand protection in Amazon’s stores using Amazon’s own lawyers. The caveat here is that fees can be $1,000 or more.
If you want to avoid those three options, which I recommend, these are your other options:
Option 1 – List a job for a trademark lawyer on Upwork. Upwork is a freelancing platform where lawyers can apply for your job and give you quick access to pricing and timelines. This way, the lawyer you select will do all of the leg work for you. Costs range from $400-500 for their services.
Option 2- Find a local IP lawyer. Search on Google and browse for lawyers in your area. Again, a local lawyer will do all of the trademark application legwork for you. Costs range from $400-500 for their services.
Now that you have a trademark, you can begin the registration process:
Step 1 – Go to the brand registry page and click “Get started” and “Enroll now.”
Step 2 – Create your account by inputting your basic business information, including your name, address, business title, and brand name. Your brand name must have an active registered trademark that appears on your products or packaging. Brands with pending trademark registration will be accepted in some instances.
From there, you will need to provide more detailed information:
-A government-registered trademark number or application number if applicable.
-A list of product categories (e.g., apparel, sporting goods, electronics) in which the brand should be listed.
-Images with branding on product/packaging
-Vendor information if applicable (not relevant for most sellers)
-Sample list of ASIN’s (top-selling ASIN’s for each product category your brand is sold in)
-Option to put distributor information in as needed
-Information on the countries where you distribute your products (optional)
-Licensing details (not relevant for most sellers)
From there, Amazon will verify your information and trademarks to ensure that everything is legitimate. It typically takes 48-72 hours for Amazon to approve your brand, although it’s not unheard of for it to take several weeks. To view the status of a submitted application, you can log into your Amazon Brand Registry account and visit your Case log.
I hope this tutorial was helpful and you now feel informed about the best way to obtain your trademark and apply for brand registration.
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