Everything You Need to Know About Amazon IP Accelerator Program
In order to get Brand Registered for Amazon (which is basically table stakes for selling on Amazon) you need to have a registered trademark. Traditionally, to get a trademark through the USPTO (the government body responsible for registering trademarks) takes months or even years. That's why in 2019 Amazon introduced IP Accelerator, a way to fast-track your trademark registration and get brand registry in just weeks.
In this article we'll discussion IP accelerator and whether you should use it to get into Amazon Brand Registry.
Related Podcast: E344: 7 Advanced Hacks for New and Experienced Amazon Sellers
How Do I Access IP Accelerator?
You can access IP Accelerator through the Service Provider Section of Seller Central (Apps and Services -> Explore Services) or by following this link (Seller Central login required): https://sellercentral.amazon.com/tsba/searchpage/IP%20Accelerator
What is Amazon IP Accelerator?
Amazon IP Accelerator was created to help brands that aren’t currently part of the Brand Registry “more quickly obtain intellectual property (IP) rights and brand protection in Amazon’s stores.“
That is, get a trademark for your brand, and get accepted to Amazon’s Brand Registry – and gain access to all of the delightful things that come with it – faster.
They do this by connecting sellers with “a curated network of trusted IP law firms that provide high-quality trademark registration services to help brands secure a trademark, at competitive rates.” These law firms don't actually get your trademark registered through the USPTO quicker – you're going to wait the same amount of time to get your trademark officially registered as you would by self-registering or using another another law firm.. However, Amazon gives law firms in the IP Accelerator the ‘benefit of the doubt' that your trademark is legitimate and gives you (near) instant access to Brand Registry.
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Trademark through IP Accelerator?
IP Accelerator currently costs about $950 This covers legal fees and the cost of actually registering a trademark through the USPTO (which is around $250-$350).
This is a relatively fair price. About the lowest I've seen law firms charge on Upwork is about $300 (plus the $250-$350 in USPTO fees). In my opinion, paying the extra $400 is well worth it in order to get near instant access to Brand Registry.
In general, if you're using a law firm to register a trademark I recommend that you just use IP Accelerator. However, if you're trying to minimize costs as much as possible then self-registering your trademark (see below) and only paying the $250-350 USPTO registration fees is an option.
IP Accelerator also offers some other services as well below.
- Filing a US trademark application = $700 (plus government fees or approximately $250-350)
- A high-level brand search of Trademark Office records for relevant pending applications or registrations = $650
- A comprehensive brand review including Trademark Office records and unregistered uses = $1800
Most sellers only want the actual filing of a US Trademark application and not these other services.
How Long Does it Take to Get a Trademark through Amazon IP Accelerator?
Like mentioned, IP accelerator doesn't get your trademark any quicker than any other law firm or self-registering. What IP Accelerator does do is get you into Brand Registry quicker. Typically, it takes about 2 to 3 weeks after working with IP accelerator to get your trademark officially filed and to get access to Brand Registry.
Not officially having a trademark registered before being in Brand Registry doesn't really affect you as a seller in any way except that you won't be able to file IP complaints for people infringing your trademark.
Government Filing Fees
Government filing fees are $250-$350 per class.
Whether you use a lawyer through IP Accelerator, any other lawyer, or do all the paperwork and file for your trademark yourself, you will always have to pay this fee.
A ‘class’ is the category your brand’s products will fall under — e.g. 028 Toys and Sporting goods or 018 Leather goods. The IP Accelerator lawyer you select will be able to recommend you the best class for your product. Most sellers only register their product for one class because it's the cheapest. If you're selling products in more than one category than being registered in that additional product class gives you more legal protection but it does not impact your Brand Registry (Brand Registry is by Amazon seller account and you can use it for any products you offer, no matter what product class your trademark is registered under).
What Services Do Amazon IP Accelerator Law Firms Provide?
Amazon’s IP Accelerator program only has pre-negotiated rates with the law firms it lists when it comes to filing your trademark, which includes both your wordmark (the name of your brand) and your design mark (your brand’s logo).
So while you can also hire these law firms for other IP-related services like filing design patent applications, copyright applications, there are no pre-negotiated Amazon fees, and the costs of those additional services will have to be determined between you and your chosen law firm.
Who Can Use Amazon IP Accelerator?
Anyone that sells on Amazon.
Amazon says the program is available to brands worldwide, but right now all of the law firms involved in IP Accelerator are based in the US and focused on filing US trademark applications.
How Do I Apply For Amazon IP Accelerator?
You can apply to Amazon IP Accelerator here.
Once you click the ‘Get started’ button you’ll be asked what country you’re in, where you want to sell, and the service you need help with (IP Accelerator, duh), and you’ll be presented with a list of law firms to choose from.
Click on any law firm and you’ll be taken to a page where you can read reviews from other Amazon sellers that have used them, and contact that lawyer yourself.
What Happens If My Trademark Application Is Denied?
Just when this post was in danger of being all warm and fuzzy, Amazon swiftly reminds us they’re Amazon:
“We regularly monitor the status of trademark applications filed through IP Accelerator. If your application is denied, then you will no longer have access to the brand protection features for that trademark application.”
Why Should You Join Brand Registry As Fast As You Can?
- Protect Your Brand – Brand Registry means more ways to protect your brand from underhanded competitors on Amazon (to learn more, check out our Ultimate Guide To Protect Your Brand On Amazon).
- A+ Content – Allows you to expand your listing and create a more compelling sales message using images, copy and video.
- Manage Your Experiments – Allows you to run split tests of your A+Content to fully optimize its potential (to learn more, check out our Manage Your Experiments post).
- Brand Stores – Create a “website” exclusively for your brand within Amazon.com.
- Amazon Posts – Create Instagram style posts on Amazon to catch the eye of buyers and drive sales of your products (to learn more, check out our Amazon Posts post).
- Amazon Attribution – Finally track your off-Amazon marketing to know exactly which pieces are working.
- Amazon Live – Make, post, and promote your own QVC style videos (to learn more, check out our Amazon Live post).
Alternatives To Amazon IP Accelerator
A US trademark application can take anywhere from 6-12 months (or possibly even longer depending on whether your application has any issues) to get approved.
And the only way to join Brand Registry before you have an approved trademark is by applying for your trademark through Amazon IP Accelerator.
However, there are other ways to get a Brand Registry eligible trademark that while not as fast as IP Accelerator are both more cost-effective and faster than filing a trademark in the US:
Option 1: Self-register (Slow but most cost-effective) – Hands down the cheapest way to get a trademark is to file your own US trademark application. Yes, it still takes anywhere from 6-12 months, but your only expense is the $250-$350 filing fee and it is definitely very do-able for sellers. To learn more about how to do it, check read this EcomCrew post about Amazon Brand Registry here.
Option 2: “Less Slow” Than A US Trademark – Amazon state on the Brand Registry FAQ page:
“We accept trademarks that have been issued by government trademark offices in the United States, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Australia, India, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the United Arab Emirates. If your trademark is registered with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), please submit the number registered with your country’s IPO office instead, as it may be different. Brand Registry is not affiliated with any of these offices; please do not contact them for information about Brand Registry.”
So you don’t have to file for a US trademark to be accepted, and some of those other countries have way faster application times – e.g At the time of writing this a trademark application in the United Kingdom takes 3-5 months, and the lawyers there speak English (duh).
Conclusion
There are certainly less expensive ways to get your trademark, but the one huge benefit to Amazon IP Accelerator is that, once you file for your trademark with one of Amazon’s approved law firms, you get immediate access to the Brand Registry.
To find out your other options when it comes to filing for a trademark and joining Amazon’s Brand Registry, check out our Amazon Brand Registry post.
This is the best article on how to trademark using Amazon IP Accelerator. Thank you! One thing you did not discuss was applications for “current use” or “intent to use” . Intent to use being more expensive. I am trying to do this quick and “intent to use” is almost $2000. It hurts, but you get to register your brand with Amazon faster.
Thanks for the heads up!
After the Brand Registry process has commenced, can we transfer the US TM application to the care of a different US attorney, who is not part of the program, without this adversely affecting the brand registry rights? The IP Accelerator firms charge high fees for POST-FILING actions, which we could do much cheaper elsewhere, or by ourselves.
Good question – I’m not really sure.
It is a good question. I would like to know the answer as well.
No, you can’t.
They will hold you as hostage and charge ridiculous fees to prepare responses. I was quoted $1700 for a response to a confusion objection and when I said I’d go to another lawyer, they said they would notify Amazon and I would lose access to Brand Registry. Ridiculous. I wish I never used it!!! Outrageously expensive!!!!
After applying trademark through Amazon IP Accelerator Program. The following response received from Amazon:
“Upon checking I see that your Brand Registry application case was sourced from the IPA program. Please note that the tools (Report a Violation) you are referring in the screenshot are applicable for registered trademark.
As your brand is a pending trademark, you won’t be able to utilize this tool until your brand is registered”
As per the above response, It is cleared that you can not “Report a Violation” unless your brand is registered even if you apply your trademark through Amazon IP Acceleration program.
That would make sense, otherwise you could potentially file a b.s. trademark competing with a competitor knowing that it would get rejected eventually.
Hi. You stated, “As soon as you file for your trademark using one of the law firms connected to Amazon IP Accelerator, you’ll immediately be invited to join the Brand Registry.” Is that because the law firm has confirmed that my trademark is available and it’s just a matter of waiting for the clerical process to be completed? I mean, why would my brand be approved for the registry if it turns out later it’s not available? Thanks for your help!
Does IP Accelerator operate in Europe? Can I use IP Accelerator and register my brand in the European Union through this programme? I am asking because until not long ago I was aware that IP Accelerator only works in the USA.