Launch Christmas product in November. Competitor filed identical trademark in July (pending). Your launch blocked before season starts. File trademark 6-12 months before launch or lose window.
Trademark Timing
USPTO/EUIPO examination: 4-8 months. Holiday season? File by April for December launch. Miss window = launch unprotected or delay entire year.
The ITU Advantage
Intent-to-Use filing: Secure name immediately, prove use later. Launch April? File ITU in October. Product ready by deadline. Blocks competitors during development.
Seasonal Conflicts
Christmas brand "Jingle" filed by competitor in January. Your July filing = junior rights. First-to-file wins regardless of who launches first. Early filing critical.
Market Saturation Timing
January = resolution/fitness brand deluge. File "FitStart" in January = compete with 500 similar apps. File in August for January launch = less examination congestion.
The Abandonment Risk
File trademark for Valentine's product. Launch fails. Abandon trademark. Next year, competitor files immediately. Your failed launch = their market intelligence.
Multi-Year Strategy
Seasonal brand returning annually. File trademark once, use perpetually. "Elf on Shelf" filed 2005, revenue every December since. One filing, infinite seasonal revenue.
Geographic Coordination
Christmas Northern hemisphere, summer Southern hemisphere. File Australian trademark separately for December summer campaigns. Seasonal timing = geography-dependent.
Trademark Lens performs instant searches but trademark registration takes months - plan filing timeline around launch calendar, not vice versa.