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Can I use the ® symbol before my trademark is registered?

Founder & Trademark Attorney

No, you can’t use the ® symbol before your mark is registered. It’s reserved for fully registered trademarks, and as such, misusing it is a legal offense in most jurisdictions.

If you have a pending application, you can use the ™ symbol instead. It’s similarly recognized by the public, but it only signifies that your mark is in the process of being registered. Once registration is complete, you can switch from ™ to ®.

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