Can Trademarks Be Sold?

Although trademarks are considered to be intellectual property, your trademarks are still subject to the same laws that govern physical property. The law provides protections against theft or unauthorized use for trademarks. Because your trademarks are considered property, you can sell or transfer them to another party just as you would sell any other physical property your company owns.

Why Transfer a Trademark?

A trademark is a marketable part of your business’ assets. If you choose to buy a company or sell your own, you’ll need to transfer the trademark to the new owner as part of the sale. Other times, trademark owners may even sell a trademark that is no longer useful to the owner.

Trademark Assignment

After you complete negotiations to sell your trademark, you must report the transfer to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to make it official, a process known as assignment. To assign a trademark to its new owner, the original registrant must file the assignment online or by mail.

Trademark Valuation

If you wish to sell a trademark, market factors usually dictate its value — namely, the price you and the new owner agree upon