We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.

How do I Trademark a Phrase?

By G. Wiesen
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

In order to trademark a phrase, you will need to begin by using the phrase in a way that is directly related to a business you own or operate. These types of uses include printing the phrase on merchandise and the packaging for merchandise, including the phrase in advertising materials, and using the phrase in advertisements for your business. You will then need to file the necessary paperwork to register your phrase as a trademark with the appropriate government agency for the country in which you live. Once you trademark a phrase successfully, then you will be able to use it to identify your business. Anyone else attempting to use it similarly would be infringing upon your trademark.

A trademark is a form of intellectual property ownership that protects various types of business identifiers, such as the names of businesses and products, logos, and phrases used by a company. If you want to trademark a phrase that you would like to have associated with your business, then you will typically need to begin by using that phrase professionally. Before you try to trademark a phrase, however, you should usually begin by running a search on that phrase to be sure no one else has already established a trademark on it.

You can then begin to trademark a phrase by simply using it in association with your business. This can include printing the phrase on your merchandise or packaging for the products you create, or using it on advertisements for your services. You should then file to register a trademark on your phrase to gain full recognition for your ownership and greater legal protection in case of infringement. To officially trademark a phrase, you should contact the appropriate government agency in your country, such as the US Patent and Trademark Office or the Intellectual Property Office in the UK.

The process to trademark a phrase usually consists of filling out certain paperwork. You will need to indicate the type of business and particular use of the phrase, as specifically as possible, and include a sample of the phrase in use. There is usually a filing fee for trademark registration, though the amount will depend on the country in which you are filing. Once your registration is successful, you can continue using the trademarked phrase and know that your use of the phrase, for business purposes related to your particular type of business, is protected.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Discussion Comments

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.