Edit Trademark Engine's existing assets to communicate that they are the most affordable, reliable, and simplest way for small businesses and individuals to register a trademark.

Trademarks are essential to businesses of all sizes. They specify and protect words and design elements that identify the source, owner, or developer of a product or service. They can be corporate logos, slogans, bands, or the brand name of a product. Trademark Engine is an online legal document filing service that primarily helps individuals and small businesses with the trademark registration process and strives to make it as efficient, understandable, and affordable as possible. Their aim is to break down barriers for those who do not need or cannot afford a full-service intellectual property attorney and to give everyone the ability to obtain a trademark for their business. 

Utilizing their assets, the goal of this project is to create a :30 TrueView video that encourages businesses and individuals to register their trademark via Trademark Engine's quick and easy online questionnaire.

For this project, once an editor is selected, they will be put directly in contact with the sponsor. All communication and feedback between both parties will run through the Tongal platform. Check out more information in the Background, or ask questions here in the Project Forum. 

DELIVERABLES: One :30 video (16x9)

TIMELINE: Please find the anticipated timeline HERE, but note that if you are selected, you should consult with your Tongal producer to ensure you are always working off of the most up to date timeline.

EXPOSURE: YouTube. For YouTube TrueView for action best practices please click here. 

TARGET AUDIENCE:  Men and Women ages 25-44 who own or work at small businesses.

TONE: Informative and trustworthy.

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Must include the following three key marketing messages:
  • Low-cost alternative to high legal fees, $69 +United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) fees.
  • Quick & easy process, file online in 3 easy steps
  • Provides peace of mind that the documents are filed in the correct way
• Must include the “+USPTO fees” disclaimer on pricing, whether in line or as an asterisk with the disclaimer in footer.
• Must also include additional footer text/direction: “Trademark Engine provides information and software only. Trademark Engine is not a "lawyer referral service" and does not provide legal advice or participate in any legal representation.”
• Video must end with the CTA "Start your trademark registration now."

Shooting live action or stop motion? Our priority is ensuring everyone's safety, so please review our COVID-19 Production Safety Guide and check federal, state, and local rules before and during your shoot to make sure your on-set protocols are up to date. We're working hard to keep people working during this extraordinary time, and you should ensure your submission is executable within the anticipated timeline and budget, while also ensuring everyone's safety.

Started by an experienced lawyer and technologists Trademark Engine just celebrated their 5th year in business and are featured on the 2021 INC 5000 as one of America's fastest-growing private companies.

REFERENCE VIDEOS: Here are some of Trademark Engine's favorite video to reference tone and style;

• Next Insurance | Get Your Business Insured With Next Insurance
• Legal Zoom | Protect Your Work

In order to be considered for this project, you must include the below materials in your pitch submission. For examples of effective pitches, check out this gallery.

• TEXT (REQUIRED): Up to 500 characters synopsizing how you plan to approach and execute this video.

• SAMPLE VIDEO (REQUIRED): Utilizing the provided assets, please provide a :30 sample video demonstrating your approach to optimizing them for YouTube, while integrating the messaging elements outlined in the Executional Mandatories.

The most compelling pitch will be greenlit, and the responsible creator will then receive an email from Tongal producers detailing next steps. All submitters will also receive an automated email notification that a selection has been announced. To ensure you’re receiving project updates, review your email settings to check that you haven’t unsubscribed.

Creators who’ve been selected will receive funding upon completing the Winner Affidavit and the IP Assignment. Payment of the pitch funds is subject to a payment schedule determined by Tongal. Please see the payment schedule in the Assets section. 

BUILDING YOUR TEAM: Tongal supports inclusivity in all of our productions and strongly encourages you to hire diverse talent for your team. To find staff & crew in your area, check out these resources and partners.

REVISION REQUIREMENTS: Once the Video Phase has closed, the greenlit submitters will enter the Revisions Phase. Filmmakers will perform reasonable edits on their videos according to the Sponsor’s feedback.

MUSIC: For any music that you use from a library, it is MANDATORY that you use one of Tongal's three music providers: Jingle Punks, Universal Production Music and Epidemic Sound, any of which can be used to source music for your video submission to this project. Music from these providers is available to registered Tongal members at no charge solely for their incorporation into submissions to this project and will not require a Music Release Form. To learn more about using each of these music providers, click on any of the providers’ names above. 

If you choose to use custom/original music, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form. 

ASSET DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS: You must also provide all project files, editing sequences and a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec in order to submit final payment.  You are responsible for the costs associated the hard drive and shipping.

For Tongal’s file delivery specs and any other questions you may have about post production, please click here.

1. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website is HD 720p 16x9. Acceptable file formats are .mov, .avi, .mp4, .wmv. Acceptable codecs are H.264 (MP4), MPEG-4, H.263, MPGV, WMV, DivX. Should your submission be greenlit, you will also be required to provide a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec.
   
   
2. Unless provided otherwise, all work must be your own original creation and free of any copyrighted material. You shall provide detailed information of your work regarding the source, the creator and background information as requested by Tongal.
   
   
3. In the event you utilize any third-party materials, such as music provided by a third-party music provider not provided by Tongal, you must obtain full written license and consent from the owner of such third-party materials and provide such license and consent forms to Tongal.
   
   
4. BY SUBMITTING A VIDEO ENTRY, YOUR SUBMISSION IMMEDIATELY BECOMES THE SOLE PROPERTY OF TONGAL OR ITS ASSIGNEES – SEE OFFICIAL RULES FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT OWNERSHIP OF ENTRIES. YOU MAY NOT PUBLICLY SHARE OR PUBLISH YOUR SUBMISSION IN ANY MANNER AND YOU MAY NOT POST OR UPLOAD YOUR SUBMISSION TO ANY WEBSITE OR VIDEO HOSTING SITE (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE OR VIMEO), WITHOUT THE PRIOR EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF TONGAL. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION OF YOUR ENTRY IN THE PROJECT.
   
   
5. You may not contact any employees or members of the Sponsor’s organization, their affiliates, or any of their partners. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disqualification of your entry in the project.
   
   
6. Submissions cannot contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
   
   
7. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor.
    
8. By submitting to this project, you acknowledge that your work may become subject to public voting on the Tongal site. Public voting may be used to help the project sponsor determine the final rank order.
    
9. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
    
10. Limit 5 submissions per member, per Phase.
     
11. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
12. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
13. In addition to the judging criteria stated in the OFFICIAL RULES, Pitches will also be evaluated on that member's ability to execute the final Video based on their prior work and experience as a filmmaker.
    
    
14. The Sponsor will be entitled to reasonable revisions on the finished Videos without providing additional compensation. Remember it's easier to re-edit than re-shoot so try to get as much coverage as possible.
    
    
15. In addition to the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment, greenlit Video creators MUST also provide Talent, Location, Music (or other) Releases for all assets appearing in their Videos, as well as a photograph/headshot OR copy of a photo ID for all On-camera Talent releases. You must also provide all project files, editing sequences and a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec to claim your earnings.
    
    
16. See OFFICIAL RULES for additional contest information, terms and conditions. If there is any conflict or inconsistency between these requirements and the Official Rules, the terms and conditions of these requirements shall prevail.