Trademark Infringement Damages Calculator
Estimate trademark damages under Lanham Act 15 USC §1117 — actual damages, disgorgement of infringer profits, statutory $1K-$2M per counterfeit mark, attorney fees, treble damages
How much can I recover for trademark infringement? Varies dramatically. Small-scale unintentional confusion: $10K-$75K (often just injunction + fees). Regular infringement with disgorgement: $50K-$500K.
⚖ Lanham Act §35 (15 USC §1117): Statutory damages $1K-$200K per counterfeit mark (up to $2M willful). Disgorgement of infringer profits. Treble damages + attorney fees for exceptional cases.
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Estimated Damages Range
$52,500 — $97,500
IP damages include actual damages + infringer's profits, with willful-infringement multipliers up to 3x. Patent cases regularly reach 7–8 figures.
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Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
Trademark Infringement Damages Under the Lanham Act
Federal trademark damages are governed by Lanham Act §35 (15 U.S.C. §1117). Successful trademark plaintiffs can recover: (1) actual damages (lost sales, corrective advertising), (2) disgorgement of infringer's profits, (3) costs of the action, (4) attorney fees in exceptional cases (Octane Fitness 2014 standard), (5) treble damages for willful infringement, and (6) statutory damages for counterfeit marks.
Statutory damages (§1117(c)) are available specifically for counterfeit marks (using a registered mark without authorization on same/similar goods). Range: $1,000 to $200,000 per counterfeit mark per type of goods. For willful counterfeiting: up to $2,000,000 per mark per type of goods. Statutory damages do NOT require proof of actual damages — critical when actual losses are hard to quantify.
For non-counterfeit trademark infringement, recovery is typically disgorgement of infringer's profits. Plaintiff proves gross sales; infringer must prove deductible costs. Romag Fasteners v. Fossil (2020 SCOTUS) eliminated the willfulness requirement for profit disgorgement — profits recoverable for negligent infringement too. The primary strategic question: prove actual damages OR pursue disgorgement OR (for counterfeiting) elect statutory damages.
Trademark Infringement Damages FAQs
What is the difference between counterfeiting and infringement?
Counterfeiting = using a registered mark (Principal Register) on identical or substantially identical goods without authorization (fake Rolex, fake Louis Vuitton). Unlocks statutory damages $1K-$200K per mark (up to $2M willful) + mandatory treble damages (§1117(b)). Regular infringement = confusion but not identical — e.g., similar mark on related goods. Recovery is disgorgement of infringer profits + actual damages + possible attorney fees in exceptional cases.
How much can I recover for trademark infringement?
Varies dramatically. Small-scale unintentional confusion: $10K-$75K (often just injunction + fees). Regular infringement with disgorgement: $50K-$500K. Counterfeiting: $25K-$500K statutory per mark. Willful counterfeiting large-scale: $1M-$10M+. Major corporate (Tiffany v Costco, Louis Vuitton cases): $10M-$100M+ via disgorgement + treble. Injunctive relief + border enforcement often more valuable than damages alone.
Do I need proof of actual damages to sue?
Depends on claim type. Statutory damages (counterfeiting only): NO — court awards $1K-$2M per mark without proof of actual loss. Disgorgement: NO for your damages, YES for infringer's profits (but infringer bears burden of deducting costs). Actual damages: YES — expert surveys, sales data, corrective advertising costs. Most plaintiffs plead all three alternatives; court elects which path.
What does Romag Fasteners v. Fossil (2020) change?
Before Romag: courts in some circuits required willful infringement to award disgorgement of infringer profits. Post-Romag: SCOTUS held willfulness is NOT a required precondition for profit disgorgement under §1117(a) — though it remains a 'highly important consideration'. Result: negligent/innocent infringers can be disgorged of their profits. Major plaintiff win — expanded recovery in mid-tier infringement cases.
When are attorney fees awarded?
Exceptional cases under §1117(a) — post-Octane Fitness (2014 SCOTUS, from patent context but adopted for trademark): 'exceptional' = stands out from others in substantive strength or unreasonable litigation conduct. Preponderance standard, not clear-and-convincing. Mandatory fee awards for willful counterfeiting under §1117(b). Attorney fees can equal or exceed damages — critical leverage for plaintiffs.
Can I sue for trademark infringement in state court?
Lanham Act claims are federal question jurisdiction (28 USC §1331) — state courts have concurrent jurisdiction but almost all cases filed in federal court for statutory damages access + injunctive scope + venue flexibility. State trademark claims (unfair competition, dilution under state Anti-Dilution Acts) can be added under supplemental jurisdiction (28 USC §1367).
What about parallel imports / gray market goods?
Gray market: genuine products imported without trademark owner's authorization. Material differences doctrine (K-Mart v. Cartier 1988) allows blocking if products differ materially from authorized version. Damages limited — often just injunctive relief + disgorgement of unauthorized profits. Customs (CBP) recordation + import enforcement critical for border control.
How long does a trademark infringement case take?
Pre-suit demand: 30-90 days. Complaint → discovery: 6-18 months. Summary judgment: 6-12 months. Trial: additional 6-18 months if no settlement. Most cases settle pre-trial due to injunctive leverage + attorney fee exposure. Large-scale counterfeiting cases may resolve in 9-18 months via default judgments against overseas defendants.