If you're an entrepreneur, you know that protecting your intellectual property should be high on your list when it comes to safeguarding your company. However, as a successful business owner, you also know the steps and costs of filing a trademark in the U.S. can be expensive and arduous.
This conundrum can be even more overwhelming for new business owners who want to do everything possible to minimize the price of securing trademarks. They try to handle complicated tasks like trademark registration on their own, which can be a big mistake - especially when juggling the day-to-day tasks of running a business. You may be thinking, "But what about those set-it-and-forget-it services you can find online? All you have to do is plug in your info, and you're done." Using pre-made templates for trademark filing can be tempting, but doing so can leave you with inadequate protection and hurt you in the long run.
So, what is the easiest, most cost-effective route to consider that also minimizes legal risk? The truth is, before you spend money on an online filing service, it's best to consult with a trademark attorney working with clients in Bradford, West Yorkshire.
At Sausser Summers, PC, our experienced trademark attorneys can help you understand the trademark process step by step. We can even help with U.S. trademark filing, U.S. trademark responses, and U.S. trademark renewals at a price you can actually afford. That way, you can make an informed decision regarding your business without having to break the bank.
Hiring an attorney can be a daunting task, but at Sausser Summers, PC, our goal is to make the process as simple and seamless as possible for you. That's why we offer a straightforward checkout service. First, you choose your flat fee trademark service and fill out a short questionnaire. Then, we will contact you within 24 hours to discuss the details of our service. From there, one of our experienced trademark attorneys will get to work on your behalf.
Using a trademark attorney for filing in Bradford, West Yorkshire, can significantly increase your chances of a successful registration. The U.S. government recommends hiring a trademark attorney to help with your application, and our team of trademark lawyers is dedicated to meeting your needs. In fact, we help ensure your application is filed correctly the first time so you can get on with your life and avoid legal risks.
At Sausser Summers, PC, we work closely with our clients to understand their needs and provide them with sound professional advice. We never offer incomplete services, such as simply filing for registration, because that would leave you open to legal risks. You can rely on us to handle your intellectual property matters, and our flat fee services can help protect your business in a simple, straightforward, and affordable way. It's really that simple.
In terms of filing a U.S. trademark, we provide an easy three-step process to protect your intellectual property:
1. You provide your trademark info to our team via an online form.
2. Our team performs a comprehensive trademark search. This search ensures that no other marks will prevent you from registering your trademark in the U.S. Once performed, we'll send you a legal opinion letter that details our findings.
3. Sausser Summers, PC, files your U.S. trademark application. We are then listed as your Attorney of Record on file. From there, we'll provide ongoing updates regarding the status of your trademark as it works through the registration process.
The bottom line? At Sausser Summers, PC, we give both new and seasoned business owners an easy, efficient, cost-effective way to protect the one asset that sets them apart from others: their name.
At Sausser Summers, PC, we give both new and seasoned business owners an easy, efficient, cost-effective way to protect the one asset that sets them apart from others: their name.
It's not necessary to be a lawyer in order to apply for a trademark. Anyone can submit a trademark application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). However, registering a trademark involves more than just filling out a form. It's essential to conduct thorough research, accurately identify and clearly explain your trademark to ensure it receives adequate protection. And even after securing a trademark, you've got to monitor it consistently to make sure it's free from infringement.
The big takeaway here is that it's always a good idea to work with a trademark attorney to protect the intellectual property that you've worked so hard to establish. According to the Wall Street Journal, applicants are approximately 50% more likely to secure their trademark than people who file applications on their own. If your trademark application is rejected by the USPTO, you will need to revise and refile it, incurring additional filing fees. To avoid delays and extra costs, it is best to have a trademark lawyer help you get it right the first time.
Great trademark attorneys (like those you'll find at Sausser Summers, PC) will help with every step of filing and enforcing your trademark. Some additional benefits include the following:
Check to see if your proposed trademark is registered by another entity.
Conduct research to see if another business is using the trademark for which you're applying.
Provide advice and guidance on the strength of your trademark.
Draft and submit your trademark applications and application revisions.
Advice and guidance regarding trademark maintenance and protection.
Monitor the market for unauthorized use of your trademark.
Trademark enforcement to protect you against infringement.
Curious whether our trademark attorney services are right for you and your business? Contact Sausser Summer, PC, today. Let's talk about what you need, and how we can help.
Online services, can provide you with basic assistance in filing your trademark. However, they will never be a legitimate substitute for an experienced trademark attorney helping clients in Bradford, West Yorkshire.
Although online filing services offer a step-by-step process, they take a one-size-fits-all approach to preparing legal documents. Even their advanced service only provides basic attorney assistance in completing your paperwork and helping with minor roadblocks. Online filing services' disclaimer highlights the many limitations of its services, including the fact that communications are not protected by attorney-client privilege. In addition, online filing services cannot provide advice, explanations, opinions, recommendations, or any kind of legal guidance on possible legal rights, remedies, defenses, options, selection of forms or strategies.
In other words, online filing services can offer you the necessary forms and point you in the right direction, but they cannot customize their services to your specific needs or help you with serious complications that may arise.
For the most comprehensive trademark service and protection, it's always wise to work with highly rated trademark lawyers, like you'll find at Sausser Summers, PC.
Trademarks in the U.S. can last indefinitely, but did you know that clients in Bradford, West Yorkshire can file a trademark online, only to lose protection in some circumstances? Trademarks differ from patents and copyrights in that they do not have an expiration date. However, to prevent the cancellation of a trademark, you must maintain it. To ensure that your trademark remains protected, you must actively use it in commerce and renew it with the USPTO every ten years.
The Lanham Act tells us that "use in commerce" is the legitimate use of a trademark in the ordinary course of trade. In other words, you cannot register a trademark solely to reserve the rights to it in the future. In most cases, a trademark must be used continuously in connection with the goods or services it is registered for.
Trademarks are registered with the USPTO and generally need to be renewed every ten years. However, there is one crucial exception that you should be aware of. Within the first ten years of owning a trademark, you must file for renewal between the fifth and sixth year from the date of your initial registration.
During this renewal period, you are required to submit a Section 8 declaration, a specimen that shows how the mark is being used, and pay the required fee. You can also apply for Section 15 Incontestability status, which can strengthen your trademark rights. This application, although not mandatory, can make it harder for others to challenge your ownership of the mark.
After the first renewal, which falls between the fifth and sixth year of ownership, the next renewal filing is due between the ninth and tenth year, and then every tenth year thereafter. In the ninth year you will need to file a Section 8 declaration, attesting to your use of the mark or excusable nonuse. You've also got to file a Section 9 renewal application before the end of the tenth year to keep your registration active.
It is worth noting that the USPTO provides a six-month grace period if you fail to renew your mark within the required time frame, but it is best not to rely on it. If you don't file within the grace period time limits, the USPTO will cancel and expire your mark.
By hiring trademark attorneys helping clients in Bradford, West Yorkshire, you can avoid the pitfalls and mistakes that can arise and cause you to lose your rights to the mark that represents it.
In the event that you stop using your trademark and have no plans to resume using it in commerce, it may be considered abandoned by the USPTO. This could result in the loss of your protective rights to the mark. Typically, a trademark is assumed to be abandoned if it has not been used for three years. However, you may be able to refute this presumption by providing evidence that you intend to use the mark again in the future.
In addition to trademark abandonment, you should also be wary of improper licensing. It's important to remember that once you allow someone else to use your trademark, you must keep an eye on how they use it. You should monitor the products or services that feature your trademark to ensure that they meet consumers' expectations in terms of quality. Failure to do so can lead to a "naked" trademark license and the loss of your protective trademark rights.
If you're wondering how you can avoid refiling your trademark, the answer is simple: file it correctly the first time around. Filing a trademark isn't inherently difficult, but when doing so, it's very important that certain aspects are filled out accurately in your application. If any information is missing or incorrect, the trademark application may be considered "void ab initio" or void from the beginning, requiring you to file again.
To avoid this, make sure that the information you provide in the application is accurate and complete, including the ownership of the trademark. For instance, if a corporation has multiple shareholders, it should not file under the President's personal name. The rightful owner should be the one/entity that ultimately controls the trademark and the associated goods/services.
It is also important to ensure that the goods and/or services description is precise. For example, if you sell electronic products, you should not file for research and development services despite having a research and development department. The goods/services description should reflect the goods/services you offer to customers, not the departments within your business.
Additionally, providing accurate dates of first use when filing for a trademark is crucial. The USPTO requires two dates to be specified - the date of first use anywhere and the date of first use in interstate commerce. Contact our trademark law office today to learn more about having accurate dates on your filing paperwork.
At Sausser Summers, PC, we often get questions about how to distinguish run-of-the-mill consultants and others from great trademark attorneys. After all - when you're looking for an attorney to file or prosecute your business trademark, you should know their qualifications. Here are three ways you can separate the proverbial wheat from the chaff when it comes to trademark attorneys.
It's crucial to seek legal advice from a licensed trademark lawyer rather than relying on advice from non-professionals like trademark consultants. The USPTO even recommends hiring an attorney to help with the trademark process. Although trademark consultants may provide advice on trademark availability or name marketability, they cannot file the trademark for you or offer legal advice. According to the Rules of Practicing in trademark cases, "Individuals who are not attorneys are not recognized to practice before the Office in trademark matters." This rule applies to individuals who assist trademark applicants.
When searching for a trademark attorney, it's important to find someone with a strong background in trademark law. Look for an attorney who specializes in this area and has significant experience handling trademark-related cases. Avoid lawyers who don't have expertise in this field, as they may not be able to provide the guidance and support you need.
Ensure your attorney provides updates throughout the trademark registration process to avoid missing deadlines, including responding to any Office actions within six months. Failure to do so can result in trademark abandonment. The USPTO will only correspond with the listed attorney of record, so make sure your attorney keeps you informed.
In summary:
Building your brand and gaining recognition for it is a significant achievement, and it's important to protect it. However, there are certain pitfalls and mistakes that can arise, causing you to lose your rights to the mark that represents it. By working with knowledgeable trademark attorneys, you can avoid these issues and file your trademark successfully.
With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Sausser Summers, PC, offers comprehensive guidance, strategic advice, and reliable representation for a variety of trademark matters. Our attorneys have years of real-world experience and, having registered countless trademarks with the USPTO, provide our clients with individualized representation when they need it most.
If you're looking for skilled, adept, and experienced counsel, look no further than our trademark law firm. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation and learn how we can help you safeguard your brand.
Bonfire Night is almost upon us once again – have you got anything planned?There are plenty of firework displays taking place across the Bradford district over the next week or so.Let’s take a look at some of biggest organised Bonfire Night events nearby where you can watch the sky light up with brightly coloured fir...
Bonfire Night is almost upon us once again – have you got anything planned?
There are plenty of firework displays taking place across the Bradford district over the next week or so.
Let’s take a look at some of biggest organised Bonfire Night events nearby where you can watch the sky light up with brightly coloured fireworks.
Why not gather around a bonfire with your nearest and dearest and enjoy some tasty food too?
Location: The Three Horses, Fell Lane, Keighley, West Yorkshire, BD22 6BZ
Date and times: Friday, November 1 – open from 3pm, fire lit at 6.45pm and fireworks to follow
There will be a professional fireworks display by award-winning Optimum Fireworks at The Three Horses in Keighley.
You can buy wristbands at the bar and if you pre-purchase, your wristband will include food.
Adults can enjoy a delicious pie and peas for just £8, while kids can grab a hotdog for only £5.
On the Visit Bradford website, it adds: “We’re thrilled to have Oakleys Grill & Pizzeria from Skipton serving up some tasty treats available for purchase during the event!”
Cash-only tickets on the night.
Find out more information here.
Location: Odsal Stadium, Rooley Lane, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD6 1BS
Date and times: Saturday, November 2 - event starts at 5pm with fireworks expected to be complete for 7.30pm
Alongside Banger Racing at Yorstox taking place at Odsal Stadium, there will be a firework spectacular set to be a “family fun night”.
Kids under 10 go free and family tickets (two adults / three children) cost £35.
There is free grandstand seating but this cannot be booked in advance.
However, buying tickets in advance is recommended.
Find out more information here.
Location: South Bradford Golf Club, Pearson Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD6 1BJ
Date and times: Saturday, November 2 – starting from 7.30pm
At South Bradford Golf Club’s annual firework display, visitors can “enjoy delicious food options including pie and peas, as well as hotdogs”.
Plus, there is an outdoor bottle bar.
On the Visit Bradford website, it adds: “Everyone is invited, both members and non-members, and we can’t wait to see you for a night filled with fun!”
Find out more information here.
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Location: Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club, Stourton Road, Ilkley, West Yorkshire, LS29 9BG
Date and times: Friday, November 8 – 5pm until 11pm. Main Stage line-up; 5.15pm Dom Sky, 6.30pm Northern Epidemic and 8.15pm Oasis Supernova
On the Visit Bradford website, it explains: “Join us for the ILTSC Music & Firework Spectacular featuring the headline act Supernova, an incredible Oasis Tribute band!
"The event will be held at the Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club, promising a night of unforgettable music and a dazzling firework display that even goes off to music! Don't miss out on this epic evening of live music and entertainment!
“Plenty of local street food, bars and hot drinks available.
“Under 16s are FOC (free of charge).
“VIP Tickets available direct from the club. Please email info@iltsc.co.uk for details.”
Advance tickets cost £10 per adult and on-the-door tickers cost £15 per adult.
Please note, prices are a guide only and may change on a daily basis.
Find out more information here.
Location: Wilsden Cricket Club, Windy Grove, Wilsden, West Yorkshire, BD15 0LA
Date and times: Saturday, November 2 – gates open at 6pm, bonfire lit at 6.45pm and fireworks at 7.30pm.
The Wilsden Cricket Club Family Bonfire and Fireworks is back for another “exciting” year and they “can’t wait to see familiar faces and welcome new friends as well”.
Visitors can enjoy delicious burgers, pie and peas, hot dogs and fresh donuts throughout the evening.
For drinks, there will be a variety of hot, soft and alcoholic beverages available.
Family tickets cost £20 (two adults and two children 3-17yrs).
Adult tickets cost £8 (18+) per person and child tickets cost £4 per person (3-17yrs).
Recommended reading:
Under three’s are free. Please note anyone aged under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
You can buy tickets online via Ticketsource.
More information can be found on the Visit Bradford website by following the link above.
A NEW bus station planned for Bradford city centre will take around five years to plan for and build – the Telegraph & Argus has been told.Although Bradford Interchange is set to reopen on January 5, the building will be operating beyond its 50-year lifespan.A recent report to its owners and operators, West Yorkshire C...
A NEW bus station planned for Bradford city centre will take around five years to plan for and build – the Telegraph & Argus has been told.
Although Bradford Interchange is set to reopen on January 5, the building will be operating beyond its 50-year lifespan.
A recent report to its owners and operators, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, recommended that plans are put in place as soon as possible for a new station for the city to eventually replace the ageing Interchange.
The new station will likely incorporate both bus services and a stop on the planned Bradford to Leeds tram system.
In an interview with the T&A last week, West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and Dave Haskins, Director of Transport Operations at West Yorkshire Combined Authority, said these plans were in a very early stage.
And with the average time for new stations to be built – from planning to operation – being about five years, it is likely Bradford Interchange will still be the city’s main bus station for some time.
Speaking after the Authority approved the Interchange’s January 5 re-opening date, transport bosses spoke about the early plans for the new station.
Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe said: “The potential locations are commercially confidential at the moment while different sites are looked at.
“There is a real opportunity with mass transit (trams) coming in to create a new city centre station. With the Interchange coming to the end of its life we can look at how we can make Bradford a better connected city for the next 50 to 100 years. The new infrastructure we are putting in place will be there for decades.”
She said it could also link up with the new rail station planned for the city centre.
Ms Brabin said: “Having seen Halifax’s new bus station, we know what a beautiful station looks like. We need to focus on the future – Bradford deserves a beautiful bus station.
“We are making the Interchange safe, but we’re also thinking what the future looks like.”
She said the mass transit system for West Yorkshire was mentioned in last week’s budget, showing that the new Government was committed to the scheme.
When asked when any new station would be built, Mr Haskins said: “The time it has taken to build other bus stations has been around five years.”
He said while the re-opening of the Interchange will cost around £500,000 – costs are likely to spiral the longer it remains open. He said: “The longer we keep it open the more those costs start increasing. It is like an old car – you could realistically keep extending its life, but how much do you spend?”
MULTIPLE fire crews were tackling a huge mill inferno yesterday evening, which caused chaos on the roads.West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (WYFRS) was called at 3.25pm on Monday to a building fire off John Street, in the Batley Carr areaA total of 10 crews rushed to the scene, with two aerial ladder appliances also dispatched.Firefighters discovered that half of a three-storey derelict mill - which measures 100 met...
MULTIPLE fire crews were tackling a huge mill inferno yesterday evening, which caused chaos on the roads.
West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service (WYFRS) was called at 3.25pm on Monday to a building fire off John Street, in the Batley Carr area
A total of 10 crews rushed to the scene, with two aerial ladder appliances also dispatched.
Firefighters discovered that half of a three-storey derelict mill - which measures 100 metres by 30 metres - was involved in the blaze.
The fire has happened at a mill building in the Batley Carr area, off Bradford Road (Image: Google Street View) The Telegraph & Argus saw footage that showed smoke billowing from the building, while a fierce glow was visible through its windows.
A number of fire engines were stationed in Bradford Road.
Large jets and hose reel jets were being used in an attempt to extinguish the flames, with firefighters using John Street, off Bradford Road, and David Lane, off Mill Road, to access the building.
The fire service has had to use John Street, off Bradford Road to try tackle the blaze (Image: Google Street View) Multiple roads were closed while the fire was dealt with, including Bradford Road - the main route connecting Batley and Dewsbury.
Mill Road was also shut.
The closures were causing major congestion to build in the surrounding areas.
A spokesperson for WYFRS said at 6pm on Monday that crews were expected to be at the scene into the night.
They added: "The public are being reminded to avoid the area and keep doors and windows shut."
WYFRS scaled back its response at 8pm, with six crews and two aerial appliances at the scene.
The spokesperson for WYFRS said: "Work at the scene will continue into the night, and a further update will be provided in the morning."
Bradford Road and Mill Road remain closed.
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It'll fully re-open a year to the day since it was partially shut for safety reasonsBradford Interchange ConcourseAuthor: Chris Young, Local Democracy Reporting ServicePublished 25th Oct 2024Last updated 28th Oct 2024Bradford Interchange bus station is set to re-open a year to the day after it was shut for safety reasons.But when it does there will still be sections of the station closed off – as resurfacing work that was being carried out before the emergency closure on January 5 this year has not been comp...
It'll fully re-open a year to the day since it was partially shut for safety reasons
Bradford Interchange Concourse
Author: Chris Young, Local Democracy Reporting ServicePublished 25th Oct 2024Last updated 28th Oct 2024
Bradford Interchange bus station is set to re-open a year to the day after it was shut for safety reasons.
But when it does there will still be sections of the station closed off – as resurfacing work that was being carried out before the emergency closure on January 5 this year has not been completed.
Next Thursday members of West Yorkshire Combined Authority – the organisation which owns and runs the Interchange, will finally be given details of when it can reopen.
Members will be told that on Sunday January 5 the city’s bus station will finally re-open after 12 months of disruption.
Jacobs Well car park, used for bus layovers since January, will re-open to the public at the same time.
The station’s indoor concourse, which has been closed off to the thousands of rail users who use the interchange every day, will re-open as soon as Monday.
The Interchange was closed in January after a lump of concrete fell from the structure into an underground car park area.
Since then there have been numerous surveys to see if there were wider structural issues with the bus interchange – essentially a huge concrete slab above a car park and retail units.
The closure has led to major disruption, with bus routes diverted and stops dotted around the city centre.
New bus shelters that were part of the ongoing Transforming Cities Fund work to re-shape the city centre, shelters which were only ever intended to be second or penultimate stops for bus routes, have been operating as bus terminals.
At a meeting of WYCA last month members heard that if certain measures were put in place, it would be safe to open the Interchange in early 2025.
However, the station is still operating beyond its 50-year life expectancy – and plans would need to be in place for a replacement station in the coming years.
At a meeting on Thursday, members will be given more details.
A report to members says: “Early indications show that a limited service could begin on Sunday 5 January 2025 and operators are now working with the Combined Authority to establish which services can be taken into the Interchange from that date.”
It points out that resurfacing work that started in 2022 is still incomplete due to the yearlong closure, and will need to be finished before 100 per cent of the station can be reopened.
It adds: “The resurfacing works will continue into 2025 and therefore six bus stands will be unavailable for use until this work is complete. The detail of which services will return and which will stay on-street is yet to be determined as operators go through the process of working through timetables, driver duties and registering services with the Traffic Commissioner to ensure this is done as seamlessly as possible.
“Not all services will return to the Interchange on 5 January 2025 and the longer-term view regarding which ones will remain on-street is yet to be determined.
“Real time information will not be available to customers on January 5 and passengers will see that RTI screens will be switched off for at least the month of January. This is due to the huge amount of additional data input required into the system at a time where large-scale service changes for Christmas results in the busiest period for the Combined Authority across the Yorkshire region.”
The Interchange’s rail passengers will be able to use the lower concourse of the building for the first time since January when it re-opens after the morning commute on Monday October 28th (from midday) as part of a phased reopening of the wider structure.
Since the closure, access to the rail section of the Interchange has been either via street level or a ramp at the side of the station.
With the concourse reopening there will now be life and escalator access as well as access to the building’s public toilets.
The future of the tenants of units in the Interchange, including Greggs and WH Smith, will be discussed in a section of the meeting where the press and public will be excluded due to “commercial confidentiality.”
Work is currently underway to create a new plaza outside the station.
Eamon O'Carroll has left his role as Bradford Bulls head coach after accepting an opportunity at a full-time Super League club.The 37-year-old is understood to be on his way to 10-time champions St Helens.O'Carroll took over at the end of last year and led ...
Eamon O'Carroll has left his role as Bradford Bulls head coach after accepting an opportunity at a full-time Super League club.
The 37-year-old is understood to be on his way to 10-time champions St Helens.
O'Carroll took over at the end of last year and led Bradford to a third-place finish in his first season.
The former Catalans Dragons coach signed a contract extension until 2027 earlier this year but leaves just days after the play-off semi-final defeat to Toulouse Olympique.
Bradford CEO Jason Hirst said: "Eamon informed me this week that he wanted to accept an opportunity to work at a full-time Super League club.
"While somewhat surprised and naturally disappointed at his resignation, I and the club sympathise with, understand and respect his desire to work closer to his family home in the north west to allow him to spend more quality time with his young family.
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"On behalf of everyone at the Bradford Bulls, I sincerely thank him for his hard work, conscientiousness and achievements this past year and wish him nothing but the absolute best in his future coaching career.
“Our recruitment process to acquire the services of another quality coach is already under way, with the club extremely confident that given our on and off-field successes these last two years, we will have no shortage of quality applicants."
O’Carroll added: "I am grateful for the opportunity Bradford have given me and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here.
"I feel between everyone at the club, the board, the volunteers, the players and staff, we have made huge strides forward this year and that is something I will look back on and be proud of.
"I think it is a really exciting time for the club and it is ready to take that next step and I hope the supporters and sponsors see that and get on board. I look forward to watching as a fan and seeing the club progress."