Protect the Concept Before the Second Location
Restaurants, bars, nightclubs, event venues, and caterers compete on names and concepts that are easy to copy. We register hospitality brands, protect distinctive décor as trade dress, and structure licenses and franchises for growth.
What hospitality brands run into
Miami's restaurant, bar, nightlife, and event scene is one of the most competitive hospitality markets in the country, and successful concepts are copied quickly.
Restaurant and bar names
Hospitality names are often common words already registered elsewhere in the country.
Federal Trademark Applications →Problem 2Copycat concepts
Décor, layout, and look can be protected as trade dress.
Florida Trade Dress →Problem 3Expansion by license or franchise
Growth requires registrations and agreements that control quality and keep ownership with the founder.
Federal Trademark Applications →Problem 4Disputes with a former partner
Partnerships end, and the name often becomes the main dispute.
Trademark Infringement Litigation →What we recommend for hospitality brands
Our five most important steps for protecting a brand in this industry, in the order most clients need them.
Register before opening the second location
Federal registration gives nationwide priority, which protects expansion. Without it, someone in another city can register the name first.
Clear the name nationally, not just in Miami
A name free in Miami may be used by a restaurant in another state, which can block your expansion.
Document your concept's look
Keep photos, design plans, and press coverage of distinctive décor to support trade dress protection.
Put partnerships in writing
Agreements among founders should say who owns the name if a partner leaves.
License and franchise with care
Use written licenses with quality control, and check franchise rules before charging fees.
Hospitality brand filings at the USPTO, 2021 to 2026
Applicants filed 57,821 U.S. trademark applications in this category from 2021 to 2025, and filings in 2025 were up 1% from 2021. 68,455 live registrations cover it today.
Applications filed per year
U.S. applications by filing date. The 2026 bar covers January to late October.
View data table
| Year | Applications filed | Registered to date | Abandoned | Registrations issued that year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,794 | 6,540 | 5,021 | 4,943 |
| 2022 | 11,372 | 6,385 | 4,400 | 5,184 |
| 2023 | 11,434 | 6,072 | 4,026 | 5,924 |
| 2024 | 11,300 | 5,722 | 3,594 | 7,143 |
| 2025 | 11,921 | 4,602 | 2,763 | 7,219 |
| 2026 (Jan.–Oct.) | 10,734 | 798 | 423 | 6,931 |
Applications filed and registrations issued
Applications by filing year, and registrations by the year they issued.
What happened to each year's applications
Status today of applications filed each year. Recent years are still largely pending.
How we counted. USPTO trademark records, retrieved October 28, 2026. The USPTO does not classify filings by industry, so this page counts: Applications in Class 43 whose services mention restaurants, bar services, catering, or nightclubs. An application is counted once even if it names several qualifying classes.
Top five trademark registrants: Hospitality
The owners that received the most U.S. registrations in this category since January 2021.
U.S. registrations issued since January 2021, by owner
Registrations issued January 2021 to October 2026 in the category described in the data section, by current owner.
View data table
| Rank | Owner | Registrations since 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aramark Services, Inc. | 53 |
| 2 | Caesars License Company, LLC | 53 |
| 3 | Marriott International, Inc. | 45 |
| 4 | Hilton International Holding LLC | 43 |
| 5 | CFA Properties, Inc. (Chick-fil-A) | 38 |
Owners identified from a random sample of 17,363 of the 37,344 registrations in the category, then counted across all of them by owner name. Listed for information only. These companies are not clients of the firm, and their inclusion implies no affiliation.
What the law says
- A restaurant's distinctive décor and overall look can be protected as trade dress, and can be inherently distinctive (Two Pesos v. Taco Cabana, 1992).
- A restaurant that operates in one location can still have nationwide priority problems: an earlier user or registrant elsewhere can block expansion.
- Florida's franchise and business-opportunity rules and the FTC Franchise Rule apply when a license includes a fee, the brand, and significant control.
Start here: a checklist for a new brand
Your checks are not saved.
Who does what for your brand
A licensed attorney is responsible for each matter, supported by paralegals and docketing staff who manage documents, deadlines, and monitoring.
Attorneys
Strategy, filings, and enforcement.
- Clearance searches and written risk opinions
- Applications drafted for hospitality goods and services
- Responses to USPTO refusals and oppositions
- Demand letters, licenses, and litigation
Paralegals and docketing
Files complete and deadlines met.
- Specimens, dates of use, and evidence
- Docketing of every USPTO and renewal deadline
- U.S. Customs recordation and Amazon Brand Registry
- Watch notices for new conflicting filings
Client service
Clear, bilingual, and easy to reach.
- Service in English and Spanish
- Copies of every USPTO notice, explained
- A written estimate before each filing
- Renewal reminders well in advance
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a federal registration for one restaurant?
Not strictly, but it protects your expansion. Without it, another business may register the name first and block new locations.
Can I protect my restaurant's décor?
Yes, as trade dress, if it is distinctive and not functional. Two Pesos v. Taco Cabana involved a restaurant.
What if another restaurant elsewhere has the same name?
It depends on who used it first, where, and whether either is registered. A search before opening avoids most conflicts.
Can I license my concept to others?
Yes, with a written license that controls quality. If you charge fees and exercise significant control, franchise rules may apply.
Who owns the name if my partner leaves?
Whoever the partnership or operating agreement says. Without one, the dispute can go to court.
Do pet grooming or boarding businesses fit here?
Yes. Pet service businesses use the same licensing and franchise advice. See Pet Products for pet goods.
Talk to us about your hospitality brand
Tell us your brand, what you sell, and where. We will check the register, recommend the right filings, and give you a written estimate.
- Clearance searches
- Federal and Florida filings
- Enforcement and litigation
- Customs and marketplace protection