What is the Principal Register?
The Principal Register is the primary federal trademark register maintained by the USPTO.
Marks registered on the Principal Register may receive the full range of benefits available under federal trademark law, subject to applicable requirements and limitations.
After filing, a USPTO examining attorney reviews the application for compliance with federal trademark law. An examining attorney is a government lawyer who evaluates issues such as conflicts with earlier marks, distinctiveness, the identification of goods and services, specimens, disclaimers, ownership, and other filing requirements.
If the examining attorney identifies a problem, the USPTO may issue an Office Action, which is an official written notice explaining the refusal or requirement and the response deadline. If the application is approved, it generally proceeds to publication in the Official Gazette so third parties have an opportunity to oppose registration before the application moves to the next stage.
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.
The Principal Register is the USPTO's primary federal trademark register and provides the full set of benefits available to qualifying federally registered marks.