Key Takeaways

  • A trademark blog name protects your brand identity and ensures no one else can legally use it for similar services.
  • You must show use in commerce or intent to use to qualify for registration.
  • Trademarking can build brand value, deter infringement, and allow you to monetize your blog more effectively.
  • Not all blog names qualify—generic, descriptive, or misleading names are typically refused.
  • The application process involves searching the USPTO database, choosing the right class, and filing through TEAS.
  • Common mistakes include assuming copyright covers your blog name, failing to maintain the trademark, or waiting too long to file.

How to Trademark a Blog Name

  1. Visit the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website.
  2. Browse the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) database to see if anyone else has already registered your blog name in the appropriate category.
  3. Submit your blog name trademark application with the filing fee. The USPTO charges about $300 for trademark registration.

What Is a Blog Name Trademark?

A trademark is a brand that's linked to the source and quality of goods and services. Registering your blog name can help your website stand out and add value to your business.

When you trademark your blog name, you gain the exclusive rights to use it. You have to defend your blog name from infringement. You can sue infringers if they profit from your blog name.

Along with a blog name, a trademark can include a business name, a slogan, a logo, or a combination of these elements. All blog name trademarks must be unique since you can't register a name that's already taken.

Your blog name should also be something that you use to generate a profit ("use in commerce") or something that you plan to use to make money ("intent to use"). In other words, your blog should be a business.

New Heading: Eligibility Requirements for Trademarking a Blog Name

Not every blog name is eligible for trademark registration. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) requires that a mark be distinctive and capable of identifying the source of goods or services. This means:

  • Unique and distinctive: Generic terms such as “Travel Blog” or descriptive phrases like “Healthy Recipes Blog” will almost always be refused. Adding unique wording or branding elements can make a blog name more distinctive.
  • Not misleading: The name cannot misrepresent the nature of your content or services.
  • No conflicts: A successful application depends on whether the name is already registered or too similar to an existing trademark. A clearance search is critical before applying.

If your chosen blog name is too descriptive or already in use, the USPTO examiner may issue a refusal, requiring you to rebrand or adjust your application.

Reasons to Consider Trademarking Your Blog Name

  • You Can Build Your Brand

As a blogger, your brand is one of your most important assets. Trademarking your blog name allows you to claim and enforce exclusive rights to it. Remember that others can refer to your blog name, but they can't adopt it as their own. Trademarking your blog name can give you the confidence to invest in your brand and build awareness around your blog name.

  • You Can Gain Control Over Your Online Presence

For bloggers, maintaining an online presence is essential. With a trademark, you can exclude others from using your blog name to build their own brands. You can sue infringers who profit from using your blog name.

  • You Can Create a Valuable Business Asset

Many blogs are profitable websites that become available for sale. Trademarking your blog name now could help you build value as you develop your website. An example of this is the TechCrunch blogger, who sold his successful brand to AOL for $25 million. As more people conduct business online, strong blog presences become even more valuable. They also allow bloggers to monetize their brands in new ways. An example of this is The Pioneer Woman, who has applied to register a trademark for additional goods and services related to her brand.

  • You Can Deter Others From Using Your Blog Name

When your trademark is registered, it will appear in a list published by the USPTO. This can deter others from using your blog name as their own.

Reasons to Consider Not Trademarking Your Blog Name

  • Your Blog Is Just a Hobby

If you don't intend to profit from your website, there's no need to register a trademark. To be eligible for a trademark, there should be a commercial aspect to your blog.

  • You Don't Plan to Enforce Your Exclusive Rights

Registering a trademark is just one step of the process. You'll also need to spend time and resources identifying infringers. If you don't plan to do this, registering your blog name might not be necessary.

  • It Could Result in Unexpected Legal Battles

Once the trademark examiner approves your trademark, it will appear in the USPTO Official Gazette. After that, third parties have 30 days to file an opposition to your trademark application. These can result in long, expensive cases that can alter your course of business. For example, the owners of the blogs "Honest Toddler" and "Danielle Walker's Against All Grain" encountered unexpected legal battles when filing their trademark applications.

Trademark Alternatives to Protect Your Blog

Trademarking is not the only way to protect your blog name. Depending on your goals, you might explore these alternatives:

  • Copyright: Automatically protects original written and visual content you publish on your blog.
  • Domain registration: Securing your blog’s domain name (and similar variations) helps establish exclusivity online.
  • Business registration: Registering your blog name as a legal business name at the state level prevents other businesses in your state from using it.
  • Contracts and licenses: You can use licensing agreements to control how your name, logo, or content is used by collaborators or affiliates.

These measures do not provide the same nationwide protection as a federal trademark but can still give you practical safeguards.

Common Mistakes

  • Waiting Too Long to Register

There's no specific deadline for trademarking your blog name. You should do it as soon as possible, though. If you haven't launched your blog yet, you can still file with the "intent to use." With a trademark in hand, you can build your brand without worrying that another party might take your blog name first.

  • Not Maintaining Your Trademark

The USPTO requires you to maintain your trademark. At the five-year mark, you have to show continual use. Every 10 years, you have to request a renewal. If you don't do the necessary maintenance, the USPTO will cancel the trademark.

  • Assuming a Trademark Also Protects Your Blog's Content

Trademark and copyright protection are separate. Written and visual content on blogs is protected under copyright. Other websites must get your permission before republishing any of your content. They shouldn't merely link to your blog. If you're not sure whether permission is necessary, review the Doctrine of Fair Use from the U.S. Copyright Act. This protects the following uses:

  • Criticism

  • Comments

  • News

  • Reporting

  • Teaching

  • Scholarship

  • Research

You can also give your content a Creative Commons license to allow others to use it as a resource.

Challenges You May Face in the Trademark Process

Even if you avoid the usual mistakes, there are practical challenges in registering a trademark blog name:

  • Office actions: The USPTO often issues “office actions” if your application needs clarification, a disclaimer of generic terms, or proof of distinctiveness. For example, if your name includes “blog” in the title, you may have to disclaim that portion since it is descriptive.
  • Oppositions: After publication in the USPTO Gazette, third parties have 30 days to oppose your trademark if they believe it conflicts with their rights.
  • Costs and delays: Although the TEAS Plus application is cheaper, filing mistakes can delay approval. Oppositions or appeals can add legal fees and months of waiting.

Understanding these challenges helps you prepare a stronger application and avoid setbacks.

Cost of Trademarking a Blog Name

The cost to trademark a blog name depends on the type of application you submit. The USPTO filing fee generally ranges from $225 to $400. Additional costs may arise if you need to file an amendment, request an extension, or respond to office actions from the USPTO.

Timeframe for Trademark Registration

Filing a trademark application online can take less than two hours, but the overall process requires patience. The USPTO typically issues an initial response within six months, and most straightforward applications are approved within about a year. More complex cases or oppositions can extend this timeline.

Duration of Blog Name Trademarks

A trademark for a blog name is valid for 10 years once registered. As long as you meet renewal requirements and show continued use, you can renew your trademark every 10 years indefinitely, maintaining ongoing protection for your brand.

Hiring a Lawyer for Trademark Registration

While many bloggers can handle the application process themselves, legal assistance can be valuable in complicated cases. Trademark attorneys usually charge between $125 and $300 per hour, which often totals between $500 and $2,000 in legal fees in addition to USPTO filing costs. An attorney can help ensure your application is properly filed, address potential refusals, and defend your blog name if challenges arise.

Steps to Trademark a Blog Name

1.     Do a Trademark Search

Check for your blog name in the USPTO TESS database. If it already appears, you can't apply for a trademark.

2.     File a Trademark Application

Submit your trademark application through the USPTO's Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) and pay the filing fee. The application includes the following: Basis for Application: If you already use your blog name, check "use in commerce." If you plan to launch the blog soon, check "intent to use."

  • Identification of the Class of Goods or Services: Blogs are in Class 041.

  • Description of the Goods or Services: Describe your blog and its purpose.

  • Identification of the Mark: List either the name or include a stylized version of the name.

  • Information About the Applicant: List your name and mailing address. If you're filing as a company, list your business name instead.

  • Declaration: Sign this to indicate that you've filed the application truthfully.

  • Specimen: If you checked "use in commerce," submit an image of your blog header, along with the URL.

3. File Trademark Maintenance Documents

Submit trademark maintenance documents with the USPTO regularly. You'll need to do this five years after the original trademark registration date. You can apply for a renewal 10 years after the original registration date and again every 10 years thereafter.

Standard Character vs. Design Marks

When registering a trademark blog name, you’ll need to decide whether to file as a standard character mark or a design mark:

  • Standard character marks: Protect the word(s) of your blog name regardless of font, style, or color. This is usually the best option for bloggers who want broad protection.
  • Design marks: Protect stylized versions of your blog name, such as a custom logo. Design marks are narrower in scope, since changing your logo later would require filing a new application.

Many bloggers begin with a standard character mark for broad protection and later add a design mark once they’ve developed a consistent visual brand.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I trademark a blog name if it’s similar to another blog? Only if the names are not confusingly similar and your blog is in a different industry or market. Otherwise, the USPTO will likely refuse the application.

2. Do I need to trademark my blog logo separately?

Yes. A blog name and a blog logo are distinct marks. If you want protection for both, you should file separate applications.

3. What class should I register a blog name under?

Most blogs fall under Class 041 (education and entertainment services). However, if your blog also sells goods or services, you may need multiple classes.

4. How do I prove “use in commerce” for my blog?

You can submit a specimen, such as a screenshot of your blog header showing the name and URL, to demonstrate that your blog name is actively used.

5. What happens if I don’t renew my trademark?

Your trademark will be canceled, and you’ll lose exclusive rights to your blog name, leaving it open for others to register.

If you need help with trademarking a blog name, you can post your question or concern on UpCounsel's marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.