U.S. Trademark Filing · DACH

Your U.S. trademark,
without the complexity.

VilinQ coordinates U.S. trademark filings for German-speaking businesses — structured, documented, in German. Not a DIY platform. Not a law firm. A defined process between the two.

We run the pre-submission check, prepare everything, and coordinate with our licensed U.S. attorney partner. The USPTO filing fee is only due after you've seen our check results — and confirmed in writing that you want to proceed.

USPTO FilingDACH
LanguageGerman throughout
Pre-checkBefore anything is filed
USPTO feeOnly due after your confirmation
AttorneyPartner on file — no search needed
Legal adviceNot provided
PricingFixed fee + pass-through at cost

VilinQ serves European businesses and founders who need reliable U.S. trademark or entity filings — without navigating the U.S. legal system directly. All coordination is available in German. Filings are executed by independent licensed U.S. counsel.

Not this
DIY platforms
No pre-check. No German. No documentation. As a DACH-domiciled applicant, a U.S. attorney is legally required anyway — DIY doesn't solve this.
Not this either
U.S. law firm directly
Hourly rates for standard cases. English only. No DACH-specific process, no German summary, no structured handoff. Right for complex cases — not for standard DACH filings.
Not this either
Community / consulting
Lifestyle and network. The trademark filing is an add-on — not a core product. Quality varies, documentation varies, liability is unclear.
VilinQ coordinates. Licensed U.S. counsel files.
All filings requiring legal representation are executed by independent licensed U.S. attorneys — not by VilinQ. This is not a disclaimer. It is the structure that makes the service reliable.

What VilinQ handles

  • Scope review before accepting your case — you know upfront whether it fits
  • Structured intake and complete documentation of all required information
  • Pre-submission review against a defined checklist — before anything reaches the USPTO
  • Filing path confirmed in writing: direct (U.S.-domiciled) or attorney partner (DACH-domiciled)
  • Full coordination with our licensed U.S. attorney partner — you don't find one, we have one
  • German-language summary of results at every stage
  • Filing confirmation with serial number, timestamp, and fee record
  • Complete case file maintained throughout — nothing gets lost

What VilinQ does not cover

  • Legal advice or assessment of your trademark's registrability
  • Trademark class selection or drafting goods/services descriptions
  • Legal responses to USPTO Office Actions
  • Tax, corporate, or business structuring advice
  • Multi-jurisdiction trademark strategy
Where these questions come up, we tell you clearly where to go — and don't pretend to answer them ourselves.
How it works

Two stages.
You decide before the money is committed.

The USPTO filing fee (USD 350 per class) is non-refundable. We built our process so you only pay it after you've seen the results of our pre-check — and confirmed in writing that you want to proceed.

Stage 1 — VilinQ
Pre-check & preparation

This is entirely our work. We review your case, check completeness, confirm the filing path, and produce a German-language summary. Your coordination fee covers this stage in full — regardless of outcome.

  • Scope confirmation in writing
  • Structured intake and case file opened
  • Pre-submission review against defined checklist
  • Filing path determined: direct or attorney partner
  • German-language summary delivered
→ Coordination fee due at mandate. Covers all of Stage 1.
Stage 2 — Attorney Partner
Filing

Only starts after you've reviewed Stage 1 results and confirmed in writing. Our attorney partner conducts the trademark search and files. VilinQ coordinates the handoff and delivers confirmation.

  • Your written confirmation required to proceed
  • Attorney partner conducts search and files
  • VilinQ coordinates communication throughout
  • Filing confirmation with serial number and fee record
  • Complete case file closed and delivered
→ USPTO fee (USD 350/class) due only after your confirmation. Attorney coordination is included in the VilinQ fee.
Why this matters
The non-refundable USPTO fee is the biggest financial risk in a trademark filing. Our two-stage model means you never pay it blind — you've already seen our pre-check assessment, and you decide whether to proceed. If you stop after Stage 1, you've paid only the coordination fee. No surprise costs mid-process.
Market position

Where VilinQ sits
relative to the alternatives.

Every alternative has trade-offs. Here's an honest overview.

VilinQ DIY / cheap platform Community / consulting U.S. law firm direct
Language German throughout English or automated German, person-dependent English, case by case
Pre-submission review Yes — defined checklist None Variable Yes — at hourly rate
USPTO fee timing After your confirmation Upfront, blind Varies Upfront
Documentation Full case file, structured None or minimal Variable, not standardized Law firm standard, expensive
Price transparency Fixed + pass-through at cost Flat, often unclear Flat, community fee Hourly or flat, variable
Legal advice Not provided — stated clearly Not provided — not stated Informal, grey area Yes — core service
Services & Pricing

Trademark filing.
Two stages. Full cost transparency before anything is filed.

Stage 1 is VilinQ's work — fixed fee, due at mandate, includes attorney coordination. Stage 2 is the filing itself — USPTO fee and licensed counsel fee, due only after your written confirmation. Standard and Complex tiers reflect case complexity, determined after our pre-check.

Stage 1 — Due at mandate
VilinQ coordination fee
Fixed. Billed in EUR. Covers intake, pre-submission review, attorney coordination, case documentation, and German-language summary. Includes licensed counsel interface throughout.
Stage 2 — Due only after your written confirmation
Filing fees (billed in USD)
USPTO filing fee: USD 350/class (non-refundable, passed through at cost). Licensed U.S. counsel fee: EUR 300 (Standard) or EUR 530 (Complex) filing activation fee. USPTO fees are billed in USD. All amounts confirmed before Stage 2 begins. You see the full picture before confirming.
Word Mark · Standard
Word Mark
Standard
Straightforward filing, clear mark
Stage 1 — billed in EUR
EUR 490
Stage 2
EUR 300 filing activation + USD 350 USPTO (pass-through)
Total from EUR 1,140 · 1 class
  • Scope confirmation and intake
  • Pre-submission review — defined checklist
  • Attorney coordination and search
  • Filing confirmation with serial number
  • German-language case summary
Standard applies where the mark is clear, the filing basis is established, and no obvious conflicts are expected. Tier confirmed after pre-check.
Word Mark · Complex
Word Mark
Complex
Descriptive, overlapping, or contested
Stage 1 — billed in EUR
EUR 490
Stage 2
EUR 530 filing activation + USD 350 USPTO (pass-through)
Total from EUR 1,370 · 1 class
  • All Standard deliverables
  • Extended conflict analysis by counsel
  • Strategy brief on registrability
  • More involved attorney-client interface
Complex applies where existing marks, descriptive elements, or unclear classification require deeper counsel involvement. Tier confirmed after pre-check — not self-selected.
Design Mark · Standard
Design Mark
Standard
Logo or visual mark
Stage 1 — billed in EUR
EUR 490
Stage 2
EUR 300 filing activation + USD 350 USPTO (pass-through)
Total from EUR 1,140 · 1 class
  • All Word Mark Standard deliverables
  • Logo file reviewed against USPTO requirements
  • Feedback if technical adjustments needed
  • Re-check after corrected file returned
You supply the logo. We check it, tell you what needs adjusting if anything, and prepare it for submission. We don't do design work.
Design Mark · Complex
Design Mark
Complex
Logo with contested or similar marks
Stage 1 — billed in EUR
EUR 490
Stage 2
EUR 530 filing activation + USD 350 USPTO (pass-through)
Total from EUR 1,370 · 1 class
  • All Design Mark Standard deliverables
  • Extended visual conflict analysis by counsel
  • Strategy brief on registrability
Tier confirmed after pre-check. Complex applies where similar visual marks, contested elements, or unclear classification require deeper counsel involvement.
Bundle · Standard
Full Protection
Standard
Word mark + design mark
Stage 1 — billed in EUR
EUR 790
Stage 2
EUR 600 filing activation + USD 700 USPTO (pass-through)
Total from EUR 1,390 + USD 700 USPTO · 1 class each
  • One intake process for both applications
  • Pre-submission review for each separately
  • Logo file check included
  • Attorney coordination for both filings
  • One case file throughout
Two separate applications — word mark and design mark — in one coordinated process. Each can be renewed and enforced independently. Saves vs. two individual filings.
Bundle · Complex
Full Protection
Complex
Word mark + design mark, contested
Stage 1 — billed in EUR
EUR 790
Stage 2
EUR 1,060 filing activation + USD 700 USPTO (pass-through)
Total from EUR 2,180 · 1 class each
  • All Bundle Standard deliverables
  • Extended conflict analysis for both marks
  • Strategy brief on registrability
  • More involved attorney-client interface
Complex tier applied where either or both marks face contested landscape. Tier confirmed after pre-check — not self-selected.
Custom constellation
Multiple filings, mixed complexity, or something that doesn't fit the standard structure?
Three standard filings and one complex, different classes across multiple marks, or an existing application that needs coordination alongside a new one — we put together a tailored quote on request. Same pricing principle: fixed coordination fee, transparent pass-throughs.
Request a quote →
Price principle
Stage 1 coordination fee is fixed, billed in EUR, and due at mandate — it covers the full VilinQ process including attorney coordination, regardless of outcome. Stage 2 filing activation fees are billed in EUR; USPTO fees are billed in USD. All Stage 2 amounts are due only after you've reviewed Stage 1 results and confirmed in writing. Standard vs. Complex tier is determined by VilinQ after the pre-check — never self-selected. Full cost confirmed in writing before anything is filed.
If the USPTO issues an Office Action

Office Actions are normal.
They're not a setback.

Roughly two thirds of USPTO applications receive an Office Action — a formal request for clarification or an objection that requires a response. It doesn't mean the application fails. It means a deadline has been set and a response must be filed. VilinQ coordinates that response through licensed U.S. counsel. You're informed when it happens, not before — because it may not happen at all.

If an Office Action is issued
Standard
Formal / procedural
EUR 490
all-in incl. counsel
Complex
Substantive / likelihood of confusion
EUR 920
all-in incl. counsel
Tier confirmed after reviewing the OA — not self-selected. VilinQ does not draft legal responses. All legal work is performed by independent licensed U.S. counsel.
A note for DACH applicants

Since 2019, DACH-domiciled applicants
are legally required to file through a U.S. attorney.

This isn't optional. Anyone domiciled outside the U.S. who bypasses this requirement — or pays a provider not set up to meet it — risks invalidation of the application. The USD 350 filing fee is already gone.

Two thirds of USPTO applications receive an initial Office Action.

The most common reasons are avoidable: incorrect classification, insufficient goods/services description, deficiencies in specimen submission. VilinQ reviews before filing — systematically, against a defined checklist.

Whoever files via a DIY platform or a cheap online service skips this review. The USD 350 filing fee is already spent — and the application may be in trouble before it's even reviewed.

Going directly to a U.S. law firm is right for complex cases.

For standard DACH trademark filings, it means hourly billing, English-only communication, and no DACH-specific process. You explain your situation from scratch — in English.

VilinQ prepares everything and coordinates the attorney partner — who files. You receive a German-language summary throughout. The attorney does the legal work. We do everything else.

FAQ

Straightforward answers.
Before you commit.

If something isn't covered here, ask before starting a mandate.

Can VilinQ assess whether my trademark can be registered?+
No — that's legal advice. The VilinQ pre-check covers administrative completeness and plausibility. The legal assessment is carried out by our attorney partner as part of the trademark search in Stage 2.
I've already searched online and found no conflicts. Do I still need an attorney search?+
Yes. A Google search or TESS lookup doesn't replace an attorney-led trademark search. Phonetic similarities, translations, and common law marks are not captured that way. Our attorney partner conducts the search as part of Stage 2 — before anything is filed.
When exactly do I pay what?+
Stage 1: The VilinQ coordination fee is due at mandate. Stage 2: The USPTO filing fee (USD 350 per class, non-refundable) is due only after you've reviewed Stage 1 results and confirmed in writing that you want to proceed. The full total is confirmed in writing before any work begins.
I'm based in Germany / Austria / Switzerland. Does that change anything?+
Yes. As a DACH-domiciled applicant, the USPTO legally requires you to file through a licensed U.S. attorney. VilinQ coordinates this — you don't need to find one yourself. Our attorney partner is already on file.
Can I file myself to avoid the coordination fee?+
As a DACH-domiciled applicant, no — a U.S. attorney is legally required. Anyone who bypasses this risks invalidation of the application. The coordination fee covers a structured pre-check, complete preparation, and full attorney coordination — not just form-filling.
Why do I need two separate applications for my name and logo?+
A combined application only protects the exact combination — not the individual elements. If you later update your logo, you lose protection for that registration and have to start over. Two separate filings — word mark and design mark — are independent: each can be renewed, used, and enforced without affecting the other.
What is the total cost for the Full Protection Bundle?+
Coordination fee: USD 1,290 for both applications. USPTO fees: USD 350 per application per class — minimum USD 700 for the bundle at one class each. Attorney coordination is included in the VilinQ fee. USPTO fees confirmed in writing before Stage 2 begins.
What happens if the USPTO issues an Office Action on my application?+
An Office Action is a formal request for clarification or an objection from the USPTO. It's common — roughly two thirds of applications receive one. It doesn't mean the application fails; it means a response must be filed within a set deadline. VilinQ coordinates the response through licensed U.S. counsel. Cost: EUR 490 (Standard) or EUR 920 (Complex), all-in including counsel. You're informed when it happens and confirm before any cost is incurred.
Can I transfer my case to another provider or attorney?+
Yes. We prepare a complete handover package with all documents and correspondence. No lock-in.
Also available

Need a U.S. entity first?
We handle that too.

LLC formation, registered agent, EIN coordination, annual compliance — and the banking solution that tech platforms don't include. Same documented, structured process.

See Entity Filing →
U.S. Entity Filing
LLC formation incl. registered agent (Wyoming, Delaware, Florida, and others)
EIN coordination — including non-SSN applicants
Annual compliance monitoring — proactive, not reactive
Banking setup incl. compatible business address (e.g. Mercury, Relay, Revolut)
Get started

Ready to file?
Tell us about your case.

We confirm scope within 2 business days. Complete submissions only — if something is missing, we'll tell you exactly what.

Start Your Filing →