Gerben IP

Overview

Gerben IP is the trading name of Gerben Perrott PLLC, a trademark law firm headquartered in Washington, DC, with satellite offices in Philadelphia, New York and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, serving clients nationwide.^[2] Its registration page advertises a flat fee of US$1,500 for search and filing. The search covers the federal register, state registers and common-law use in the marketplace, and is followed by a call with an attorney to discuss the results and filing strategy.^[2] The fee also covers tracking the application at the USPTO and responding to non-substantive Office Actions, such as requests to clarify the goods and services, supply a domicile address or disclaim a word. More serious refusals are billed separately, and the firm says it discloses fees before charging.^[2] USPTO government fees are additional. The firm’s cost guide lists a separate statement-of-use legal fee of US$450 and puts Office Action responses at typically US$1,500–3,000.^[3]

Gerben IP strengths and limitations

Strengths

Search covers federal, state and common-law sources
Non-substantive Office Actions included in the flat fee

Limitations

Substantive Office Action responses typically cost US$1,500–3,000 extra
The firm's pages quote different flat legal fees ($1,500 on its registration page, $3,000 in its cost guide)