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Hot Tip: Trademark Registration

 

International companies can sometimes offer good prices on services. Case in point: Rider McDowell of Knight-McDowell Labs, in Carmel, Calif., wanted to trademark the name of several products. Friends referred him to a San Francisco law firm, whose eye-popping fee for a U.S. trademark was nearly $15,000, with more charges for registration in other countries. But while visiting Vancouver, McDowell contacted a local company, Dean Palmer Intellectual Property Law, and asked for a price quote on trademarking. Palmer's fee was 75% less than the U.S. firm's. And the Canadian company could handle international trademarks to boot. "It was great," says McDowell. "I spent, total, about $15,000 for registration in 22 countries," including China, Switzerland, and Brazil.

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    • Mike Hofman

    Mike Hofman was previously editor of Inc.com and a deputy editor at Inc. magazine, which he joined in 1996. The site was nominated for a National Magazine Award for Digital Media in 2010, and was named the best business website by Folio Magazine. In 2006, Hofman was part of a team of writers nominated for a Webby Award for best business blog. He lives in New York City.


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