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Meeting: Week of Feb 23, 2026
5 topics · ~40 minutes · Lena bills by the hour — every question is specific
30-Second Context
You have five things on the table with Lena: (1) the provisional patent deadline is July 2026 — confirm Lena is tracking it and find out what she needs from you; (2) patent infringement insurance should be in place before you start selling — Lena may recommend a broker and needs to scope an FTO search first; (3) the Amazon Brand Registry problem — your trademark (Serial 99124468, filed April 2025 directly with USPTO) doesn't qualify for Brand Registry until it's fully registered, and you have three paths forward with real cost and timeline differences; (4) the trademark transfer to Piqki DE C-Corp — submitted but not yet confirmed; and (5) what "proof of use" at launch actually looks like so you're ready when the time comes. Come in with specific questions, not open-ended discussions.
Agenda — 5 Topics, 5–8 min each
Background
Perkins Coie has an active engagement on Piqki's provisional patent for the wheel mechanism. The provisional establishes the priority date but expires 12 months from filing — creating a hard deadline (July 2026) to file the full non-provisional. You need to confirm Lena is tracking this deadline, understand where the application stands, and know exactly what she needs from you to move forward without delays.
Questions for Lena
- What is the current status of the provisional patent filing — has it been submitted, or is it still in prep?
- What is the exact expiry date of the provisional — is it July 2026 or a different date?
- What do you need from me to file the non-provisional on time? Technical drawings? Claims revision? A product sample?
- What's the fee estimate to convert the provisional to a non-provisional application?
- Have you flagged any third-party patents that could conflict with the wheel mechanism claims?
Background
Defensive patent infringement insurance — covering Piqki's legal costs if a competitor or patent troll sues for stepping on their patent — typically runs $3,000–$10,000/year for an early-stage product company (sources: Founder Shield, BlueIron IP, CFC, Insureon). The recommended starting point is BlueIron IP (ip.insure), a startup-specialist broker that shops 12+ carriers including Lloyd's of London. The prerequisite before any insurer will cover litigation costs is a Freedom to Operate (FTO) search — a legal opinion confirming Piqki's wheel mechanism doesn't step on known patents. Enforcement coverage (to sue copycats) doesn't make sense until the patent is granted.
Questions for Lena
- Has a Freedom to Operate (FTO) search been done on the wheel mechanism? If not, what would it cost and how long does it take?
- Do you recommend getting defensive coverage in place before the May 2026 launch, or is that premature at the provisional stage?
- Does Perkins Coie have a preferred IP insurance broker, or should I reach out to BlueIron IP directly?
- Can the FTO search be scoped now so it's done before launch, even if the non-provisional hasn't filed yet?
- Ballpark: if the FTO comes back clean, what annual premium range would you expect for $500K–$1M in defensive coverage for a consumer product company at Piqki's stage?
Background
Piqki's trademark (Serial 99124468, filed April 7, 2025 directly with USPTO) is not eligible for Amazon Brand Registry while pending — per Amazon's official policy, confirmed by Amazon Seller Central (June 2025). Three paths exist:
| Path |
What happens |
Cost |
Brand Registry access |
April 2025 priority date |
| A — Refile via IP Accelerator |
Withdraw existing app; IP Accelerator firm files new application |
~$1,150 |
2–4 weeks |
❌ Lost |
| B — File new logo mark via IP Accelerator |
Keep existing word mark; file a design/logo trademark through IP Accelerator in parallel |
~$875–$1,150 |
2–4 weeks |
✅ Preserved |
| C — Wait for full registration |
Let existing application proceed; register after proof of use at launch |
$0 additional |
June–Aug 2026 (if clean) |
✅ Preserved |
Critical unknown: The actual status of Serial 99124468 is unknown without checking
tsdr.uspto.gov. If there's a pending office action, Path C's timeline may be significantly longer.
Check this before the call — it takes 2 minutes and is public information.
Questions for Lena
- Can you pull Serial 99124468 on TSDR right now — is it clean, or is there a pending office action?
- Based on current status, what's your realistic estimate for full registration?
- Does losing the April 2025 priority date (Path A) create any material risk, given how distinctive "Piqki" is as a mark?
- If we pursue Path B (file a logo mark through IP Accelerator), can you be the attorney of record — or do we need a separate firm from Amazon's vetted network?
- For the Statement of Use at launch: what counts as a valid specimen — a screenshot of a live Amazon listing, a website purchase confirmation, or something else?
- Is there any scenario where the existing application could retroactively qualify for IP Accelerator without refiling?
Background
The Piqki trademark (Serial 99124468) was originally filed outside of the Piqki DE C-Corp entity. A transfer (assignment) to the C-Corp was submitted, but has not yet been confirmed as recorded with the USPTO. The brand's IP must sit in the operating entity — both for ownership clarity and for investor diligence. This needs a status check.
Questions for Lena
- Has the trademark assignment to Piqki DE C-Corp been recorded with the USPTO? Who does TSDR currently show as assignee?
- If the assignment isn't recorded yet, what's the USPTO's current processing timeline for trademark assignments?
- Is there any risk period while the assignment is pending — does the original filer retain any rights during the gap?
- Once confirmed, will it automatically reflect in TSDR and Amazon Brand Registry enrollment, or do we need to take additional steps?
Background
Piqki's trademark is an Intent-to-Use (ITU) application under Section 1(b). Once a Notice of Allowance (NOA) is issued, Piqki has 6 months to file a Statement of Use (SOU) proving the mark is in commerce. Based on USPTO average processing times (official USPTO data, Jan 31, 2026): first examination averages 4.5 months from filing, opposition period is 30 days after publication, and SOU processing runs ~20 days after filing. If Piqki launches May 2026 and immediately files an SOU, registration could arrive June–August 2026 — assuming a clean application. This is the foundation for Path C in the Amazon question above.
Questions for Lena
- Has a Notice of Allowance been issued for Serial 99124468? If not, when do you expect it?
- What is the SOU filing deadline — 6 months from the NOA date?
- What does the SOU specimen need to include for a nail product selling on Amazon — a screenshot of a live listing, a photo of product packaging, both?
- Can we extend the SOU deadline if the launch slips past May 2026? What are the extension fees and maximum extensions allowed?
- Once the SOU is filed and approved, how long until the registration certificate is issued — currently still around 20 days?
- Are there proactive steps we should take between now and May launch to make the SOU as clean as possible?
What Gin Needs to Bring
📋 Before the Call
- Serial 99124468 TSDR status — Pull from tsdr.uspto.gov before the call (public, takes 2 min). Know: NOA issued? Office action pending? Published for opposition? This changes the Amazon path recommendation entirely.
- Provisional patent filing date — Confirm the exact date on file with Lena so the July 2026 deadline can be verified.
- Trademark transfer context — Did Gin submit assignment docs to Lena, or file independently? Have this info ready so the conversation has context.
- Amazon timing decision — Is Brand Registry required at May 2026 launch, or can Piqki start selling without it and add Brand Registry post-registration? This is a business call, not a legal question. Have a position ready so Lena can give targeted advice.
- Piqki DE C-Corp formation docs / EIN — Lena may need to confirm the assignment is recorded to the correct entity.
What Would Be a Win
✅ Walk Away With These Three Things
Gin walks away knowing: (1) the exact provisional patent deadline and what she must deliver to Lena to hit it, (2) which of the three Amazon Brand Registry paths Lena recommends given the actual TSDR status of Serial 99124468, and (3) whether Piqki needs to commission an FTO search before launch — and what it will cost. Those three answers make every downstream IP decision executable.
✅ QC Sign-Off — Max · Feb 21, 2026
Analyst standards ✅ · Completeness ✅ · Brand accuracy ✅ · Approval boundaries ✅ · Data integrity ✅
Sources: USPTO.gov (Jan 31, 2026 wait-time data), Amazon Seller Central (June 2025 official response), Founder Shield / BlueIron IP / CFC / Insureon (insurance cost range), IdeaLegal.com + ecomclips.com (IP Accelerator fees). No strategic decisions made for Gin.