File before your brand reaches a supplier, distributor, or public launch
The filing decision belongs before the first external exposure point, not after the first sale. Map who will see the mark and when, then work backward to a filing date.
On this page
Use the legal guide for the rule
The legal rule, qualifying priority claims, prior-use limits, and bad-faith issues belong in the first-to-file guide. This page applies that rule to the practical moment when a brand leaves the core team.
Map the first external exposure point
- Supplier or factory: decide before sending branded artwork, samples, labels, molds, or specifications.
- Distributor or licensee: decide before sharing the brand in partner outreach, territory negotiations, or channel materials.
- Marketplace setup: decide before creating public listings, seller pages, product images, or China-facing launch assets.
- Public launch: decide before announcing the name at a trade show, crowdfunding launch, press release, or public website.
If production is the first exposure point, use the manufacturing guide for the factory, packaging, and shipment detail.
Turn the exposure date into a filing deadline
Write down the earliest external date, the mark that will be shown, and the goods or services attached to it. Settle the applicant and filing scope before that date. If the scope is not ready, the answer is to resolve the scope—not to let exposure choose the filing date for you.
Prepare the filing materials, confirm which classes cover the product, and file before the first recorded exposure point.
Read the durable filing references in Docs, or open Support.