How to Trademark a Podcast Name (2026 Guide)
Your podcast's name is the brand listeners search for and recommend. This guide shows you exactly how to protect it with a federal USPTO trademark — the right class, the search, and the filing.
Free Trademark Search →Why your podcast name needs a federal trademark
As podcasts grow, name collisions and copycats become real risks across Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. A federal trademark gives you nationwide exclusive rights to your show's name, helps you stop imitators, and protects sponsorship and merchandise deals built on your brand. Because U.S. rights are largely first-to-file, registering early secures your priority date.
Which class do you file in? (Class 41 — and sometimes 9)
An ongoing podcast is an entertainment service under Class 41. If you also sell downloadable episodes, an app, or audio products, you may need Class 9. Merchandise would add its own classes. Map every revenue stream to a class before filing.
How to file, step by step
1. Run a comprehensive search. Check the USPTO database and common-law uses for conflicting show names, including phonetic matches. 2. Choose your classes. Class 41 at minimum, plus Class 9 or merchandise classes if they apply. 3. File your name and logo. Register the show name as a word mark and the cover art as a design mark. Same-day filing is available with Secure Mark USA.
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Start Your RegistrationFrequently asked questions
What class do I trademark a podcast name in?
An ongoing podcast is an entertainment service under USPTO Class 41. Downloadable episodes or an app may add Class 9.
Can I trademark my podcast name before launching?
Yes. You can file an intent-to-use application based on a bona fide intention to use the name, which secures your priority date before your first episode.
Does owning the podcast handle protect the name?
No. A handle or domain is first-come availability; a trademark is a legal right to the name for your services.
How much does it cost to trademark a podcast name?
Secure Mark USA's service starts at $99 plus the USPTO fee of $350 per class. Most shows file in a single class (41).
Do I need a lawyer to trademark a podcast name?
U.S.-domiciled applicants are not required to use an attorney. Secure Mark USA provides expert filing support and is not a law firm.
Helpful resources
Trademark Registration Free Trademark Search Trademark Classes Trademark Cost Trademark Monitoring
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