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 Peterborough City, Cambridgeshire.
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 Peterborough City, Cambridgeshire, 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 Peterborough City, Cambridgeshire.
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 Peterborough City, Cambridgeshire 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 Peterborough City, Cambridgeshire, 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.
Reopening the railway between March and Wisbech could cost up to £230million latest estimates have revealed. The ...
Reopening the railway between March and Wisbech could cost up to £230million latest estimates have revealed. The Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Dr Nik Johnson, said more needed to be done to make the project “add up financially”, after it was given a “very low” benefit cost ratio by Network Rail.
The March to Wisbech railway first opened back in 1847, but closed to passengers in 1968, with freight services continuing until 2000. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has been looking at the potential of reopening the route with some form of public transport for the past few years.
The authority asked Network Rail to conduct an options assessment report to evaluate the possible ways of reopening the line. Four options were looked at, including reopening a heavy rail line; a hybrid train and tram route; a light rail system, such as a tram; or a very light rail system.
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The analysis looked at the potential costs of the options and said a heavy rail line could cost up to £230m, with a tram line of some kind potentially costing up to £182million. All of the options looked at were given a “very low” benefit cost ratio. At a transport and infrastructure committee meeting this week (November 4) Peter Wakefield, vice-chair of Railfuture East Anglia, called on the Combined Authority to “stop the procrastination and commit to building the railway back to Wisbech”.
Russel Beal, from Wisbech and Fenland Museum, said the business case for reopening the rail line should be linked to the concept of a Wisbech Garden Town, which he said would create additional passengers to travel on the line. Councillor Anna Smith, Deputy Mayor and representative from Cambridge City Council, said the committee was disappointed by the information in the report, but said the Combined Authority was “firmly committed” to re-establishing a link between March and Wisbech.
However, she said the authority did not have the power or the funding to initiate a project to reopen the rail line on its own, adding that it was “essential” to get the support of Network Rail. Cllr Smith said: “We fully recognise the situation of Wisbech as a major town in Cambridgeshire without a railway station and we understand the significant impact the improving connectivity could have on local mobility, economic growth and social inclusion. In light of the latest report more work is needed to demonstrate the deliverability, viability and economic justification of the March to Wisbech link to Network Rail and other stakeholders.”
Councillor Chris Seaton, from Fenland District Council said he was “disappointed” by the benefit cost ratios presented for the four options. He suggested the Combined Authority should look at a wider project to also extend the rail line to Chatteris and to the proposed new Anglian Water reservoir, as he said this would offer more economic opportunities for both housing growth and leisure.
Councillor Neil Shailer, from Cambridgeshire County Council, said the analysis conducted by Network Rail looked at the current situation in the town where people have “adapted” to the lack of a rail line. He recognised it was not Network Rail’s job to consider an infrastructure first approach, but said the authority should, as he said people and businesses consider transport infrastructure when choosing where to live or be based.
Cllr Shailer said the project was not just about creating a link between Wisbech and March, but about connecting Wisbech to the rest of the county and the wider national rail network. He added that the reopening of the rail line had the potential to create wealth in the area, through businesses choosing to locate in and around Wisbech.
Councillor Angus Ellis, from Peterborough City Council, said the idea of connecting Wisbech by rail to the rest of the county was a “no brainer”. The Mayor said the information presented in the papers was “disappointing”. He said the authority needed to make the project “add up financially” as well as recognising the “huge potential benefits” of the rail connection.
Whether you enjoy a simple get together with friends or prefer the flashier fireworks displays, Cambridgeshire has a range of events happening across the county to celebrate Bonfire Night. From ...
Whether you enjoy a simple get together with friends or prefer the flashier fireworks displays, Cambridgeshire has a range of events happening across the county to celebrate Bonfire Night. From Cambridge city centre to smaller local shows, there is something suitable for everyone to remember, remember the 5th of November.
Bonfire Night falls on a Tuesday this year, but there are still plenty of displays to see over the weekend in the run-up to November 5. A few of these events will also have other activities taking place to keep you entertained.
CambridgeshireLive has taken a look at some of the biggest events going on in the area to help you decide how to spend your Bonfire Night. Information on tickets and where these displays are taking place can be found below.
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Address: Midsummer Common, Cambridge CB5 8DJ
Organised by Cambridge City Council, this fireworks display is one of the longest running traditions in Cambridge. The oldest fireworks display company in the UK, Pains Fireworks, will be lighting up the sky for this event.
This fireworks display will be taking place on Bonfire Night with the show starting at 7pm. There will be two performances by the street theatre show Spark! who combine drumming with coloured lighting, just before the displays at 6pm and 7.20pm.
The event is completely free and draws in thousands of people each year. No ticket is necessary to watch the show but the organisers suggest you allow plenty of time to arrive, as they expect a large turnout.
Address: Cherry Hill Park, 78 Broad St, Ely CB7 4BE
With the backdrop of Ely Cathedral, this fireworks display really is a magnificent sight. The display will be put on by the Crazy Fireworks team with a range of fairground rides and refreshment stalls dotted around the park to keep you entertained.
The event is taking place on Saturday, November 2, and entry to the park will begin at 5pm with the bonfire being lit at 6.30pm and the display starting at 7pm. Tickets bought in advance cost £8 for adults, £4 for children, and £20 for a family ticket.
Tickets for the event can be bought from a range of places so it is worth visiting the Ely Fireworks Facebook page here to check out the nearest place for you where tickets can be purchased from.
Address: Abbots Ripton, PE28 2PH
Huntingdon Fireworks are putting on two displays this year on Saturday, November 2. The first, which will start at 7.30pm, is made especially for children with popular kids songs for them to sing along to and fireworks that are slightly less noisy.
At 8.30pm, the main musical display will take place, which is designed by Komodo Fireworks, and will see the fireworks paint the sky in time to the music. Early bird tickets are on sale now and cost £10 for adults and £5 for children aged 3 to 15 and can be bought from the Komodo website here.
Address: Peterborough Lions Rugby Club, Peterborough, PE3 8DF
For the 15th year, the Peterborough Lions Rugby Club will be putting on a fireworks display. Alongside the bonfire, there will be a funfair and a fully licensed bar selling a variety of real ales.
The event is taking place on Sunday, November 3, and will start at 7pm. Tickets cost £7.50 for adults and £5 for children and special family tickets that cost £20, all of which can be bought from their website here.
Address: The Big Field site, London Road, St Ives, PE27 5ER
Fireworks in Hemingford has been running for 75 years and promises to deliver an evening of musical fireworks and entertainment. Britain's Got Talent contestant Jezo will be performing some magic tricks and there will be street food vans and a funfair for the children to enjoy.
The event will be taking place on Saturday, November 9, with gates opening at 4.30pm and the fireworks display starting at 7pm. Tickets cost £12 for adults and £7 for children and they can be bought from their ticketing website here.
Address: Kimbolton Castle, Kimbolton, Huntingdon PE28 0EA
Taking place on Friday, November 1, the town of Kimbolton will be hosting a fireworks display in front of their historical country house. The display, put on by Titanium Fireworks, will last for 20 minutes and will be paired with music.
The event will also feature a funfair, live music, and food starting from 5.45pm. Tickets cost £14 for adults and £4.50 for children aged between three and 18 and can be bought from their website here.
Address: The Three Horseshoes, 179 Main St, Yaxley, Peterborough PE7 3LD
This year, Yaxley's Scout and Guide Group is helping to organise the fireworks display at The Three Horseshoes pub in the village. The event will take place on Saturday, November 2, with gates opening at 5:45pm and the fireworks starting at 7pm.
Tickets for adults cost £8 per person and a child's ticket costs £5 for those aged 3 to 17. You have to buy a ticket in advance, as no ticket will be sold on the night, and they can be bought here.
Address: Village Hall, Horningsea, Cambridge CB25 9JG
On Sunday, November 3, the Horningsea Residents Association is putting on a fireworks display and bonfire. The event will be taking place on the Village Green adjacent to the Village Hall.
The gates will be open from 5:30pm for visitors to enjoy hot drinks, snacks, and music before the lighting of the bonfire starts at 6:30pm with the fireworks display to follow. Tickets cost £5 for adults and £2.50 for children aged over 5 years old and can be bought on the night but make sure to bring the correct change as it is cash only.