Trademark Law in San Francisco

Empire Business Law

Trademark law is the first step in building legal protection around your brand. At Empire Business Law, we help San Francisco businesses secure and defend the trademarks that make them stand out. Whether you're starting something new or reinforcing a well-established brand, our attorneys manage the entire trademark process—from searches to filing and enforcement. In a diverse and fast-paced city like San Francisco—home to innovation, tech startups, and legacy brands—having strong trademark protection is essential to maintaining your competitive edge.

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Registering your trademark in San Francisco shows investors that you mean business. It also protects your brand when competitors try to emulate rather than innovate.

Trademark Attorneys for San Francisco Business Owners

Trademarks – The Benefits of Registering a Trademark in San Francisco

A registered trademark gives your business the legal support it needs to grow without interference. Call Empire Business Law at (855) 781-7705 to get started. When you work with a trademark attorney in San Francisco, you gain control over how your brand is used and protected. Our team ensures that others can’t use similar logos, names, or branding that could confuse your customers. We help San Francisco businesses navigate the trademark process efficiently and thoroughly.

Trademark Application Requirements in San Francisco

Applying for a trademark can take time, and mistakes can be costly. Even if your application is straightforward, it may still take several months to be approved. A rejected application could mean starting over—with no refunds.

That’s why San Francisco businesses turn to Empire Business Law. We know how to avoid common pitfalls and respond to challenges if they arise. Let us manage your trademark application so you can stay focused on your business goals.

Trademark Searches

Running a trademark search is one of the most important steps before launching a brand. In a business-heavy market like San Francisco, this search helps you ensure your chosen name doesn’t conflict with existing trademarks—and that it can be legally protected.

✔ Prevents accidental trademark infringement
✔ Improves your chances of successful registration
✔ Helps avoid costly rebranding down the line

At Empire Business Law, we know trademarks. We help people every day with trademarking their product or protecting it. Call our office at (855) 781-7705, Schedule an appointment - click here or fill out our contact form and we will contact you as soon as possible. Contact us today.

What Is a Trademark Name?

To be legally enforceable, your trademark must meet specific standards, including:

✔ Being clearly different from existing marks
✔ Being used as an adjective—not a standalone noun or verb

Following these legal rules ensures your San Francisco business has a strong, protectable brand identity.

A great example of this is . . . “Do you have a Q-Tip?” Instead, you’d say: “Do you have a cotton swab?” Similarly, you shouldn’t ask someone for a "Kleenex” but instead, for a tissue.

Ideally, a trademark should also be:

  • Easy for people to pronounce
  • Not too long
  • Recognizable or not too complicated
  • Simple by design

What Is an Example of a Trademark in San Francisco?

You may be surprised to learn that company and product names aren't the only things you can trademark. You can also trademark a:

  • Symbol (example: McDonald's "M" or Golden Arches symbol)
  • Slogan (example: Burger King "Have It Your Way" line)
  • Colors (example: Target's Red Bullseye)
  • Sound (example: NBC three-note chime)

What Are the Benefits of Trademark Registration in San Francisco?

Trademark registration protects your business from lookalike competitors and confusion in the marketplace. In a place like San Francisco—where startups, established brands, and tech giants coexist—trademark protection is critical to staying visible and credible in your industry.

Once your brand gains recognition and trust, you want to make sure it stays that way. A trademark keeps others from capitalizing on your reputation with low-quality knockoffs. In San Francisco’s competitive market, it also ensures your brand remains clear, consistent, and protected in the eyes of your customers.

Having the official ® (registered trademark) service mark next to your name adds credibility and validity to your brand. Contact Empire Business Law and Get The Help You Need For Your San Francisco Business Today!

  • What types of Intellectual Property can not be Trademarked?

    You can't trademark creative works. You can protect the following types of art by copyright instead of a trademark:


    • Written works, including novels or non-fiction books
    • Plays / movie scripts
    • Poetry
    • Art
    • Songs
    • Films
    • Theatrical performances

    You also can’t trademark inventions, machines, business processes, or pharmaceuticals. These are protected by utility patents. You can, however, protect the brand names of these inventions with a registered trademark.


    Finally, you can’t protect designs or plans with a trademark. You can protect these with design or plant patents, respectively. The intellectual property attorneys at Empire Business Law can also help you with the patent application process.

  • Do I Need to Register My Trademark to Protect My Intellectual Property?

    In short, you don't have to register your trademark in the United States to gain protection. A federal trademark filed through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office offers trademark registration rights across the U.S. However, there are numerous advantages to obtaining a federal registration.

  • Do I Need a Trademark Attorney to File My Trademark Application?

    A trademark attorney can save you time and money through the trademark filing application process. Too many times a business will try to apply on its own, causing problems down the road, including a rejected application or the registration not fully protecting the business. This ends up costing the business more in the long run.


    Empire Business LAW can help save time and money through the trademark application process. Call us today at (855) 781-7705 for help getting your trademark application filed.

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If you are looking for a very professional and reliable lawyer do not look any furthermore. Daniel López helped us by answering all of our questions. He made us feel comfortable with the process. I will highly recommend him to my family and friends. Thank you so much, Daniel. You were the best!

Ines S

Empire Business Law Client

Daniel is amazing! he's helped us get our business restructured right. He's so knowledgeable and extremely responsive. I would highly recommend Daniel and the attorneys at Empire Law for anything you need done with your business.

Rudy G.

Empire Business Law Client

We needed some trademark work done. There was another business using our logo. We called Empire and they literally held our hand through the whole process.

Patrick M.

Empire Business Law Client

I recommend Daniel Lopez, Esq. due to his knowledge, integrity, and ability to choose what is right for his clients. No upselling or trying to overcharge.

Tim J.

Empire Business Law Client

Great first experience with this Law firm. I had a meeting with Daniel. He was friendly, informative, and straight to the point which I appreciate as a business professional.

Tom A.

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Danny was very helpful and answered all my questions regarding the creating of my LLC. He was very helpful. I would work with his firm again.

Stevee A.

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Always a great experience speaking with Danny. Knowledgeable and professional.

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