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 Reading, Berkshire.
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 Reading, Berkshire, 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 Reading, Berkshire.
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 Reading, Berkshire 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 Reading, Berkshire, 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.
Ever wondered where your local spoons sits on the list of best to worst? We've got you covered.Looking over TripAdvisor reviews, we've collated a list of the highest to lowest-rated Wetherspoons pubs in the area.Coming in at number one is The Moon and Spoon on Slough's High Street.This chain pub is rated a whopping four out of five stars by customers, with 48% of the overall ratings being five stars.One happy customer said, "I end up in Spoons a lot due to work and have to give respect to the staff in this on...
Ever wondered where your local spoons sits on the list of best to worst? We've got you covered.
Looking over TripAdvisor reviews, we've collated a list of the highest to lowest-rated Wetherspoons pubs in the area.
Coming in at number one is The Moon and Spoon on Slough's High Street.
This chain pub is rated a whopping four out of five stars by customers, with 48% of the overall ratings being five stars.
One happy customer said, "I end up in Spoons a lot due to work and have to give respect to the staff in this one.
"Even though they always seem understaffed, they soldier on and take everything in their stride. It's a rowdy crowd, as well.
"Always very professional and polite. Big up the crew, especially Ed and Kat."
The Old Manor in Bracknell is also rated pretty highly with a score of 3.6 out of five.
Talking on the quality of the food and drink there, one person described it as 'great' and the wine as the best they have ever had!
They said "My favourite place in Bracknell! The prices are great, the service is brilliant, the food is great for the price, and the rose wine is the best rose I've ever had.
"Lovely building and hard-working staff. Hope it never closes!"
Coming in at third on our rankings is The Back of Beyond (lovingly known as BOBs to some of us) in Reading.
This riverside spoons was given a 3.2 rating by its customers, with a mix of some positive and negative reviews.
One person wrote that they had a great time at the establishment and encouraged others to go. They even called it the best pub in Reading!
They said, "Love this place! It's a Wetherspoons, so it comes with the stigma of having cheap drinks and food, which at the moment brings in students that have no interest in playing by the rules.
"But it is a great pub with great food, friendly staff, and a generally welcoming vibe. The door staff are great at keeping the students under control or kicking them out when they misbehave.
"It's a very well-managed pub. I highly recommended if you're looking for a Wetherspoons in Reading, this is it!"
And finally, last on our list is The Hope Tap on Friar Street, Reading, which has been rated 3.1 stars (which, I must say, still isn't too bad!).
Do you agree with these rankings? Email me your thoughts at olivia.mowl@newsquest.co.uk.
A very exciting new addition will be hitting the menus of three lucky Berkshire pubs.Marston’s and Michelin-starred chef Tom Shepherd have teamed up to introduce The Best Ever Pub Pie to local pubs.The Best Ever Pub Pie will be served in 19 pubs across the South East, with three in Berkshire, such as The Elephant at the Market and The Two Watermills, both in Newbury, and The Oakingham Belle in Wokingham for 12 weeks, from April 17.Tom Shepherd is sharing his secret pie recipe for the first time ever, giving Marston...
A very exciting new addition will be hitting the menus of three lucky Berkshire pubs.
Marston’s and Michelin-starred chef Tom Shepherd have teamed up to introduce The Best Ever Pub Pie to local pubs.
The Best Ever Pub Pie will be served in 19 pubs across the South East, with three in Berkshire, such as The Elephant at the Market and The Two Watermills, both in Newbury, and The Oakingham Belle in Wokingham for 12 weeks, from April 17.
Tom Shepherd is sharing his secret pie recipe for the first time ever, giving Marston’s customers up and down the country the chance to enjoy a new version of a favourite pub dish, inspired by his banquet-worthy original.
The triple-layered pie is filled with hand-pulled beef cheek, caramelised onions, and roast potatoes, all encased in a luxurious beef fat shortcrust pastry.
The pie will be served with seasonal vegetables, creamy mashed potato and a rich red wine sauce.
Tom Shepherd is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, and entrepreneur and owns the Staffordshire based, Michelin-starred restaurant Upstairs by Tom Shepherd.
Chef Tom Shepherd said: “I’m so excited to be partnering with Marston’s to give as many people as possible the chance to try my secret recipe. I have been asked to share the recipe a lot, but it hasn’t felt like the right partnership, until now!
“For me, when I think of the pub, I think of a good pie, so I was delighted to have the chance to work with the Marston’s team to bring this pie to life. I can’t wait to see what people think. The Best Ever Pub Pie will only be on the menu for 12 weeks, so don’t miss out!”
Tom appeared on Great British Menu in 2023, winning the main course round and the chance to cook his pie at the coveted banquet.
Tom has been working closely with the Marston’s development team to make sure that the pie is as close as possible in flavour and appearance as his iconic dish.
Claire Robertson, Director of Operations at Marston’s, said: “Pies are some of the most popular dishes across our menus, but we wanted to do something extra special and when Tom Shepherd agreed to share his recipe, we were thrilled.
“We’ve worked really hard together to create the most delicious dish possible, it’s rich, decadent and absolutely delicious. We can’t wait to introduce The Best Ever Pub Pie to customers across the UK, giving as many people as possible the chance to try my recipe from the 17th of April.”
Royal Berkshire Hospital may be forced to write off £7 million after plans for the development of a new hospital have been paused.In 2017, the previous conservative administration put forward a promise that 40 hospitals would be built/renovated to keep up with rising demand and failing facilities.After years of uncertainty, it has now been confirmed that a number of these hospitals will be forced to halt preparations until further notice.READ MORE: ...
Royal Berkshire Hospital may be forced to write off £7 million after plans for the development of a new hospital have been paused.
In 2017, the previous conservative administration put forward a promise that 40 hospitals would be built/renovated to keep up with rising demand and failing facilities.
After years of uncertainty, it has now been confirmed that a number of these hospitals will be forced to halt preparations until further notice.
READ MORE: Reading primary and secondary schools that are too full
This includes the Building Berkshire Together team at Royal Berkshire Hospital - that were co-ordinating plans and consultations for the new facility.
The £7 million used to conduct surveys, investigations and develop the programme will need to be written off.
The Building Berkshire Together team, that have been working with the community and other parties to create a hospital that will be able to facilitate people from across Berkshire and surrounding areas.
READ MORE: Royal Berkshire Hospital Rebuild team 'standing down'
Following the news of the dissolution of the team, a spokesperson from the NHS Royal Berkshire Trust said in January they were 'extremely disappointed' that there was 'little prospect of a new hospital before 2040'.
According to a Freedom of Information request, a total of £150 million has supposedly been ‘wasted’ on the planned and preparation of 18 hospitals across the country.
This comes after the NHS announced ‘major delays’ in the development of these hospitals, included in the UK’s New Hospital Programme.
Despite the governments promise that 40 new hospitals would be built by 2030, it has now been announced that preparations have been stalled until at least 2030 for 18 of the hospitals on the list.
According to Royal Berkshire Hospital they will begin construction in 2037.
READ MORE: Paddington Bear statue to be put back after being vandalised
A spokesperson from the Royal Berkshire Hospital said: “The Trust have been delayed on the New Hospital Programme and will start construction for a new Royal Berkshire Hospital from 2037.
“The Building Berkshire Together team have been stood down and further funding for the programme will be available in 2030. The costs spent to date have been incurred developing the programme, modelling demand and capacity for our future hospital, site surveys and investigation of alternative sites.
“The resources developed and the knowledge gained will be of use going forward.”
One programme director of a delayed scheme who wished to remain anonymous, told the Health Service Journal that the spending had ‘essentially been wasted’ over the last five years.
They added: “We could have made significant improvements in our estate.”
The largest figure was £35 million from Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust.
Clive Jones, the Lib Dem MP for Wokingham said that it is a ‘real shame’ that the group has been forced to step down.
He added: “The group was full of really good people who all really cared about what they were doing. They were all working on something that they really believed and they were passionate about.
“I am so angry and frustrated at the incompetence that went on during the conservative government's administration. They knew all along that there was no money and they just sold a pipe dream.
“They alone are responsible for the waste of the £7 million.”
The transformation of a closed pub in Berkshire is ongoing, as part of a project to convert it into a village shop, wine bar and offices.The Greyhound pub in Wargrave has been closed in December 2021 after its tenant landlord Steve Linstead retired.A year afterwards, a plan emerged to convert the pub into a wine bar, guest house and shop.As well as changes to the main building, consent was also given to add to an outbuilding to create offices.Work began at the pub in the winter of 2023/24, with th...
The transformation of a closed pub in Berkshire is ongoing, as part of a project to convert it into a village shop, wine bar and offices.
The Greyhound pub in Wargrave has been closed in December 2021 after its tenant landlord Steve Linstead retired.
A year afterwards, a plan emerged to convert the pub into a wine bar, guest house and shop.
As well as changes to the main building, consent was also given to add to an outbuilding to create offices.
Work began at the pub in the winter of 2023/24, with the transformation project continuing.
Scaffolding up at pub in Berkshire village as transformation project takes place
Photos show the inside of the building being obscured by curtains while work progresses.
The rear of the pub is a building site, with Essex Masonry Services conducting work on the conversion.
The Greyhound has been taken over by H'Artisan speciality coffee shop, a neighbouring business in Wargrave run by husband and wife Nick and Sarah Hart.
H'Artisan has a reputation for high-quality coffee and pastries and partnering with the Rapha Cycling Club to provide a convenient stop-off for cyclists.
The conversion project was approved by Wokingham Borough Council's planning department in July 2023.
Since then, a series of follow-up applications have been submitted by Mr Hart while work takes place.
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The first of these was an application focused on the outbuilding, which would have changed the roof over external stairs, roof lights and the location of the window for the building.
This application was refused as the change would have materially altered the appearance of the outbuilding as it was originally approved.
However, a later plan for these changes was given the go-ahead last year.
A Wokingham Borough Council planning officer wrote: "The rooflights proposed, whilst a numerical increase on what was previously approved, are noticeably smaller in scale.
"Their form would still be that of flush conservation rooflights that retain an adequate level of symmetry.
"Overall, the impact of the changes proposed would not adversely harm the visual amenities of the Wargrave Conservation Area."
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Other changes that involve lowering the height of the existing chimney and replacing windows and external doors with timber-framed double glazing were also approved last year.
It is not clear when The Greyhound will reopen.
You can view the various applications that have been decided by typing the references below into the borough council's planning portal:
The demolition of the former Berkshire County Council offices has received support from councillors in Reading, but concerns remain over traffic safety.The Shire Hall office complex at Shinfield Park served as the Berkshire County Council headquarters from 1981 until 1998, when local government reforms divided Berkshire into six unitary authorities.It is a large, brutalist building just off the Shinfield Arms roundabout.Development company Wrenbridge has applied to demolish Shire Hall and replace it with five warehouse-s...
The demolition of the former Berkshire County Council offices has received support from councillors in Reading, but concerns remain over traffic safety.
The Shire Hall office complex at Shinfield Park served as the Berkshire County Council headquarters from 1981 until 1998, when local government reforms divided Berkshire into six unitary authorities.
It is a large, brutalist building just off the Shinfield Arms roundabout.
Development company Wrenbridge has applied to demolish Shire Hall and replace it with five warehouse-style business and industrial buildings.
Although the office complex is in the Reading urban area, it is situated in Shinfield, which falls within Wokingham Borough Council’s jurisdiction.
However, due to its proximity, the project was discussed at a Reading Borough Council planning applications committee meeting.
Introducing it, councillor Richard Davies, vice-chair of the committee said: “This is Shinfield Park the former site of the Berkshire County Council headquarters up till ‘Liberation Day’ as we call it in 1998 when Reading became a unitary authority.”
Joe Lovelock (Labour, Norcot) said: “I spent many a happy hour over at this building when we were negotiating the new unitaries with the county council and all the legal stuff that went with that.
“I know it well as a building, I have to say, the replacement isn’t going to be a thing of beauty is it?
“Shire Hall itself wasn’t that bad a looking building, but it’s a shame it’s not being replaced with something a little bit more elegant.”
Cllr Davies (Labour, Thames) committed a faux pas by letting cllr Lovelock speak before planning officer Richard Eatough could introduce the application, provoking collegiate laughs.
When Mr Eatough said he had nothing much to add, cllr Davies quipped: “You bailed me out there!”
There were concerns about traffic safety, with Mr Eatough recommending that Wokingham Borough Council investigate crash data and improvements to the junction of Whitley Wood Lane and the B3270.
Cllr Micky Leng stated that there had been “little or no cooperation” between the two councils to make the junction safer, which is Wokingham Borough Council’s responsibility.
Lorry traffic will be intensified as a result of the project.
Cllr Leng (Labour, Whitley) said: “Instead of a car, drivers have more chance of hitting a lorry now.
“I think Wokingham Borough Council should stop taking this lightly and get on with it.”
He also pointed out that Reading Borough Council resurfaced part of Whitley Wood Lane which wasn’t its responsibility “out of good faith”.
Cllr Davies quipped: “I thought you were going to do a JD Vance and say they should say thank you!”
A petition calling for safety measures has so far received 24 signatures, and closes on Thursday, April 17.
Councillors raised no objections but did request an investigation into safety at the Whitley Wood Lane junction at the meeting on April 2.
A decision will be made by Wokingham Borough Council. You can view the application by typing reference 250415 into its planning portal.