A lot of products I buy have the seller’s name on the package, so I assume I need to trademark my company/ store name?
I tried trademarking a catchy name for the first product I tried to list, but received notice several months later the application was rejected due to several mistakes with the app.
Do you have to wait until it’s formerly approved by USPTO before Amazon will let you list with your company and/ or product name?
You don’t need a trademark just because your packaging shows a seller name, because you can usually list products under a brand name without owning a USPTO registration yet, as long as you are not using someone else’s trademark and your branding is consistent and properly placed on the product or packaging.
A trademark becomes most important for brand protection and for unlocking Amazon Brand Registry features like better control over listings, A+ content, and brand protections. For Brand Registry specifically, Amazon often allows enrollment with either a registered trademark or, in many cases, a pending trademark application, and there is also an IP Accelerator route that can help you get access faster while the application is pending.
If your only goal is to list with your company or product name (not Brand Registry), you may still be able to proceed, but Amazon can sometimes ask for extra proof that you own the brand, such as product/packaging photos showing the brand name, invoices, or other brand documentation.
On the USPTO rejection, what matters is whether it was an Office Action you could have responded to (fixable issues like wording, class selection, specimen problems, or disclaimers) versus an unfixable refusal, because many “mistakes” can be corrected if you respond properly and on time.
The practical takeaway is that you usually do not have to wait for full USPTO approval to start listing, but you should avoid brand names that are too generic or too similar to existing marks, and you should get the trademark process right if you want long-term protection and Brand Registry control.
Did you use an attorney? You shouldn’t be doing it yourself. And it isn’t even expensive, more like $1,000 per trademark.