Ownership transfers and legal name changes are generally recorded through the USPTO Assignment Center. Depending on the status of the trademark, an additional USPTO form may be required to update the registration record. Registered marks may require a Section 7 request.

Ownership is especially important because the wrong applicant can create a substantive problem, not merely a clerical one. The correct owner is generally the person or legal entity that owns and controls the trademark and the associated goods or services at the relevant time.

Federal can remain active indefinitely, but only if the owner continues to meet legal requirements. Unlike a patent with a fixed term, a trademark registration must be maintained through continued qualifying use and periodic filings with the USPTO.

For most U.S. registrations, a Section 8 declaration is due between the fifth and sixth anniversaries of registration. A combined Section 8 and Section 9 filing is generally due between the ninth and tenth anniversaries and every 10 years thereafter. A six-month grace period is generally available after these deadlines with additional fees.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the federal agency responsible for examining U.S. trademark applications, issuing federal registrations, and maintaining official trademark records.

An assignment is a legal transfer of trademark ownership from the current owner (the assignor) to a new owner (the assignee).