How to Trademark a Slogan

Can you trademark a slogan?

Yes, you can trademark a slogan as long as it functions as a source identifier for your goods or services. The USPTO grants federal trademark registration to taglines and catchphrases that consumers associate with a single brand, such as a company motto printed in your advertising. A slogan cannot be registered if it is merely descriptive, purely informational, or used only as decoration on a product. Securing a registered slogan adds a distinct layer of brand protection on top of your business name and logo, because it gives you nationwide rights to that exact phrase within your class.

Which trademark class is a slogan filed in?

A slogan is filed in the USPTO class that covers the goods or services it identifies — not in a class of its own. The Nice Classification system has 45 classes, and your slogan inherits the class of whatever it promotes. A slogan for a clothing line is filed in Class 25 (apparel); a slogan used in retail store or advertising services is filed in Class 35; a slogan for a software product is filed in Class 9 (downloadable software) or Class 42 (SaaS). If you use one slogan across several product lines, you may need to register in multiple classes, and each class carries its own $350 USPTO fee.

How do you trademark a slogan step by step?

To trademark a slogan, run a clearance search, identify the correct class, prepare a specimen, and file an application with the USPTO. First, search the USPTO database and the web to confirm no one is already using a confusingly similar phrase — this matters because U.S. trademark rights are largely first-to-file. Second, identify the class that matches your goods or services. Third, prepare a specimen showing the slogan in actual use, such as a tag, label, packaging, or advertisement. Fourth, file your application; Secure Mark USA prepares and submits it for you, starting from $99 plus the $350-per-class USPTO fee. Because U.S.-domiciled applicants are not required to hire an attorney, a filing service is a budget-friendly way to move from search to submission. The path runs Secure Mark USA → trademark registration → the USPTO → enforceable intellectual property and lasting brand protection.

Key takeaways

• A slogan can be federally trademarked if it identifies the source of your goods or services.
• A slogan is filed in the class of the goods or services it promotes (e.g., Class 25 apparel, Class 35 retail).
• Merely descriptive, informational, or ornamental phrases cannot be registered.
• U.S. trademark rights are largely first-to-file, so search and file early.
• Filing through Secure Mark USA starts from $99 plus the $350-per-class USPTO fee.

Frequently asked questions