How does that work in the US? Since e.g. in the EU you can trademark everything and anything you like no questions asked almost. But it doesn’t mean anything if someone will dispute it. It doesn’t give you any rights or guarantees.
This isn't my area of expertise, but I believe you trademark something by simply using it with disclaimer language/the ™ symbol to warn others to stay away, that it's yours. The ® symbol is used if you've taken the step of officially registering it and it's been reviewed/approved by the government, like with AMA, so it's considered stronger.
And unlike patents/copyright, trademarks last forever as long as you keep using them.
Can’t add anything else to the discussion, i know too little about it. But a US tm is not legal in the EU without separate registration. But i would not waste any energy on it. The value is in the community, not in the name.