Q: My question is on trademarking an acronym along with the full name. Can it be one filing or does it have to be separate?
My new business has a name but I like to use the acronym along with it. To trademark it, do I have to trademark the acronym and the fulll name as two separate trademarks, or can I file them together under one trademark?
For example, if my business name is T.A.P. and the spelled out version of my business name is Tomorrow Aim Power (I made that up for reference), can I file 'T.A.P. - Tomorrow Aim Power' as one trademark, or do they have to be registered separately and paid for separately?
A: There are multiple factors to consider that are beyond the scope of Justia's Q&A. For a detailed analysis you will need to contact an attorney directly. As a general rule, acronyms can be included in a single trademark application if certain conditions are met. Most trademark holders favor filing multiple applications because a separate application affords greater protection, but based on the nature of the use a separate filing may be unnecessary (this is something an attorney could review). For the requirements of a trademark application review the US PTO webpage. Also be aware Colorado has a separate list for trademarks/names. A federal filing takes longer (and usually is slightly more expensive), but provides coverage nationwide. A Colorado filing is cheaper, but only covers Colorado.
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