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 Boston, MA.
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 Boston, MA, 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 Boston, MA.
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 Boston, MA 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 Boston, MA, 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.
Two people were detained in Winthrop, Massachusetts, on Friday morning, in an incident that was caught on camera and left questions for the community amid talk of a second surge of federal immigration activity in the Boston area.Scout Grifoni, who lives near where she saw the detentions, said she was driving home when she saw agents wearing DEA and Homeland Security vests pull a work truck over."It feels really close to home, and it feels honestly surreal, strange," she said, noting the incident left her shaken....
Two people were detained in Winthrop, Massachusetts, on Friday morning, in an incident that was caught on camera and left questions for the community amid talk of a second surge of federal immigration activity in the Boston area.
Scout Grifoni, who lives near where she saw the detentions, said she was driving home when she saw agents wearing DEA and Homeland Security vests pull a work truck over.
"It feels really close to home, and it feels honestly surreal, strange," she said, noting the incident left her shaken.
The owner of the truck that was pulled over told NBC10 Boston the two people who Grifoni filmed being detained were employees of his house painting and flooring company. He said the agents questioned him at first, showing him a picture of a person they were looking for, but released him when he showed them the U.S. passport he got seven years ago.
NBC10 Boston has reached out to ICE for any information on what happened, including what charges the pair were detained on and when they would make an initial court appearance, but didn't immediately hear back.
ICE's director told the Boston Herald the sweep of immigrants in the city a few months ago "only scratched the surface." Follow NBC10 Boston: https://instagram.com/nbc10boston https://tiktok.com/@nbc10boston https://facebook.com/NBC10Boston https://twitter.com/NBC10Boston https://bsky.app/profile/nbcboston.com
A number of people were detained by federal agents in the area during an initial sweep in January, and on Thursday, the acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement told the Boston Herald that the agency is preparing for a second surge in the Greater Boston area.
It wasn't immediately clear if Friday's detentions were part of a larger sweep, but residents in the area were shocked.
"I don't even know why they would be here. We should all stop hunting people and work on immigration reform," Joseph Brennan said.
BOSTON, MA — Boston Calling is headed for downtown Boston this week in the return of the festival's collaboration with High Street Place.For the fourth year, Boston Calling Night at High Street Place returns, bringing live performances from local acts and food and drink this Thursday from 6 to 11 p.m.This year’s event includes live performances from local hip-hop artist Latrell James and rock pop band Copilot, offering a preview for fans of their upcoming sets at the festival this Memorial Day Weeke...
BOSTON, MA — Boston Calling is headed for downtown Boston this week in the return of the festival's collaboration with High Street Place.
For the fourth year, Boston Calling Night at High Street Place returns, bringing live performances from local acts and food and drink this Thursday from 6 to 11 p.m.
This year’s event includes live performances from local hip-hop artist Latrell James and rock pop band Copilot, offering a preview for fans of their upcoming sets at the festival this Memorial Day Weekend.
In between Latrell’s and Copilot’s performances, DJ J-Wall, High Street Place’s music director and resident DJ, will spin songs from Boston Calling acts from the past and present.
High Street Place’s restaurant partners will dishes for every palate, including the newly opened CUMIN Indian Eats, burgers from Wheelhouse and the porchetta sandwiches from Pennypacker's.
For guests 21 and older, a selection of local beers, curated wines and craft cocktails will be available for purchase at Alewives Tap Room, Bubble Bath and Daiquiris & Daisies, all within the food hall.
Officials have asked attendees to free register for Boston Calling Night at High Street Place by visiting www.highstreetplace/event.
Registered guests will be entered to win a pair of 3-Day VIP passes to Boston Calling 2025. Entrants must be present at the event to win.
In October 2023, cellist Yo-Yo Ma returned to Boston’s Symphony Hall to play Shostakovich’s two cello concertos with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and its Music Director Andris Nelsons. Recorded by a team headed by legendary Hollywood producer Shawn Murphy and BSO lead recording engineer Nick Squire, their performances of these two very different works are now set to be released by Deutsche Grammophon to coincide with the 50th an...
In October 2023, cellist Yo-Yo Ma returned to Boston’s Symphony Hall to play Shostakovich’s two cello concertos with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and its Music Director Andris Nelsons. Recorded by a team headed by legendary Hollywood producer Shawn Murphy and BSO lead recording engineer Nick Squire, their performances of these two very different works are now set to be released by Deutsche Grammophon to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the composer’s death in 1975.
Shostakovich: The Cello Concertos will be issued as a standalone digital, CD, and vinyl album out now. Yo-Yo Ma’s recordings are also included in the anthology bringing together the BSO’s decade-long, GRAMMY Award-winning Shostakovich project. This contains all fifteen symphonies, key incidental works, new recordings of the complete cello, piano, and violin concertos – the latter with soloists Yuja Wang and Baiba Skride respectively – and the first commercial audio release in more than 20 years of the composer’s only full-length opera, Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District. It will be released digitally and as a 19-CD box set on 28 March.
Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 in E flat major dates from 1959. Cast in four movements, it was dedicated to and premiered by the composer’s old friend Mstislav Rostropovich. Yo-Yo Ma has played the work many times, and here brings out the contrasting moods of its writing, from dark irony to poignant lyricism, with his signature virtuosic brilliance. In many places he creates an eloquent dialogue with BSO principal horn Richard Sebring.
Reviewing the First Concerto performance, the Boston Globe wrote, “in the second movement’s eerie duet between the cello and celesta, the high-pitched sound of Ma’s cello harmonics was so thin and crystalline that they sounded like a wind instrument. The extended cadenza was pensive, slowly ramping into the sardonic burlesque of the finale, which sent the orchestra hurtling to the finish line with Ma clinging to his cello as if for dear life.”
Rostropovich premiered the Second Cello Concerto in G major in Moscow on 25 September 1966, Shostakovich’s 60th birthday. He was also the soloist for the BSO’s first performance of the work, which, by sad coincidence, took place on 10 August 1975, the day after the composer’s death.
The Second begins in a melancholy vein, with a sighing phrase for the solo cello. After the extended Largo, the second and third movements are played without a break. Shostakovich mimics a street song from Odessa in the central Allegretto. That tune is dramatically restated in the finale, which begins with a horn fanfare and eventually ends with wood block, tom-tom, snare drum, and xylophone (part of the orchestra’s huge percussion section) punctuating a long-held drone note from the cellist.
This more reflective, inward-looking work is less frequently performed than its predecessor. As noted by the Boston Globe, however, “one could scarcely have asked for a better trail through [this less familiar territory] than the path Ma charted with Nelsons and the BSO … Here the cello brooded resolutely … there it raged in dark outbursts only to be answered by explosive thuds from the bass drum.”
Yo-Yo Ma will be reunited with the BSO and Nelsons at Symphony Hall on 11 April 2025 (sold out) and at New York’s Carnegie Hall on 24 April. Together they will perform the First Cello Concerto as part of an all-Shostakovich programme which will also feature the composer’s Symphony No. 11 “The Year 1905”.
“Having Yo-Yo Ma, one of the greatest cellists of our time, join us on our journey through Shostakovich’s music has been an immense privilege and a joy for all of us at the BSO,” says Andris Nelsons. “Yo-Yo has a totally unique imagination which infects everyone around him. His incredible range and depth and his humanity are ever present when performing Shostakovich’s demanding cello concertos. We are very proud to present this recording with Deutsche Grammophon, including as part of our complete Shostakovich box set, and I look forward to reprising the First Cello Concerto with Yo‑Yo in Boston and at Carnegie Hall later this spring.”
The property is one of the largest office buildings to trade in the city since the pandemic.The Boston real estate firm Synergy has acquired the office tower at 99 High St. in downtown Boston from an affiliate of finance giant TIAA for $227 million, one of the largest office buildings to trade in the city since the pandemic.The transaction marks Synergy founder Dave Greaney’s largest purchase yet ...
The property is one of the largest office buildings to trade in the city since the pandemic.
The Boston real estate firm Synergy has acquired the office tower at 99 High St. in downtown Boston from an affiliate of finance giant TIAA for $227 million, one of the largest office buildings to trade in the city since the pandemic.
The transaction marks Synergy founder Dave Greaney’s largest purchase yet in his post-Covid buying spree. Greaney has been the most active buyer of downtown Boston office properties over the past two years, including 101 Arch St., which Synergy acquired for $78 million last year.
The 32-story, 730,000-square-foot building sold at a substantial discount, as other properties have since the pandemic sent office vacancies soaring.
TIAA bought 99 High for $273 million in 2005. It has been under the ownership of its real estate arm, Nuveen Real Estate.
"To be able to acquire a Class A asset, in an exceptional location, close to transportation and amenities — we'll buy those assets all day long," Greaney said.
Synergy is assuming the mortgage on the property from MetLife, according to property records. A Nuveen representative could not be immediately reached for comment on the sale.
The property went on the market last year, and Synergy has long been linked to the building as the buyer-in-waiting. Located on the Greenway, the tower has been viewed as an important barometer for what a high-quality downtown office tower can go for in a market upended by Covid-19. The sale price came to $311 per square foot.
The building is 78% leased, according to Synergy. Tenants include AIG, insurance brokerage Marsh McLennan and the architecture firm SGA. Built in 1971, the tower underwent a lobby renovation in 2019.
The only building larger than 99 High to trade hands downtown in the past five years has been One Lincoln St., though that was in a foreclosure auction. A lending group took back the property with a $400 million bid last month. The 36-story, 1.1-million-square-foot had been refinanced for $1 billion just three years ago.
In addition to 101 Arch, Synergy has purchased 179 Lincoln St., One Liberty Square and One India since mid-2023. Greaney said that his firm hopes to buy "a few more assets" in Boston before year's end.
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Largest Commercial Real Estate Selling Brokers in Massachusetts
Total commercial sq. ft. sold in Mass. in 2024
Rank | Prior Rank | Firm/Prior rank (*unranked in 2024)/ |
---|---|---|
1 | 3 | CBRE Inc. |
2 | 1 | Colliers |
3 | 4 | Newmark |
Massachusetts breweries come in all shapes and sizes. But at its core, their shared mission is to bring people together to drink great beer.With over 230 breweries in the state, Massachusetts has a rich beer culture that shows itself in tap rooms where people can gather.“A brewery is often treated like a community center for the 21-plus crowd,” said Katie Stinchon, Executive Director Mass Brewers Guild.On any given night, a brewery might host a paint night or a yoga class. Oftentimes, there is a line out the ...
Massachusetts breweries come in all shapes and sizes. But at its core, their shared mission is to bring people together to drink great beer.
With over 230 breweries in the state, Massachusetts has a rich beer culture that shows itself in tap rooms where people can gather.
“A brewery is often treated like a community center for the 21-plus crowd,” said Katie Stinchon, Executive Director Mass Brewers Guild.
On any given night, a brewery might host a paint night or a yoga class. Oftentimes, there is a line out the door for trivia. A brewery’s tap room serves as a third place that is not work or home to congregate and encourage people to be social, according to Notch Brewing’s founder Chris Lohring.
“Tap rooms can never lose their focus on being a community-driven enterprise,” said Lohring.
The brewery should not serve as a bar where the game is on and people don’t talk, or a restaurant where the food outpaces everything else, according to Lohring. His aim is to foster an “informal,” hospitality-centric environment with great beer.
While the brewing industry has significantly evolved in the past decade — from a boom in craft brewing to facing post-COVID challenges — brewers still see the tap room experience as invaluable.
When Sam Hendler co-founded Jack’s Abbey in 2011, it was still illegal to pass a pint of beer over the bar for the customer to drink in-house.
A Massachusetts law was passed in 2013 that allowed for breweries to sell their beer for on-premises consumption without needing to file for a separate restaurant pouring license. It became a major shift for the brewing industry.
“That was the beginning of a whole new era of craft beer in Massachusetts,” said Hendler. In 2015, Hendler Family Brewing Co. opened its first beer hall. Recently, the company has also acquired Night Shift Brewing and Wormtown Brewery.
“We have not changed the tap rooms in a significant way,” said Hendler, who thinks that every brand needs to keep its own identity.
“Worcester and Wormtown are basically synonymous so if we muddy the waters there we feel it will be really confusing,” he said.
Boston Beer Company is trying to evolve with its consumers by offering choices in its tap rooms, especially since drinking has gone down nationally as Gen Z has stepped away from alcohol.
“We’re seeing a big rise in interest in the sober curious movement so we are seeing a lot of people that are interested in no or low alcohol beers,” said Shelley Smith, Senior Manager of R&D Brewing and Operations for brands like Samuel Adams and Dogfish Head Brewery.
The tap room is a critical place to interact with the consumer. Experimentation and innovation are central to the experience. Oftentimes a beer like American Light will begin in a tap room and then move to regional then national sales if it performs well, according to Smith.
While tap rooms have typically been family-friendly, a movement to stop kids from entering breweries has started to gain traction. Notch and Castle Island Brewing have both recently added policies limiting children in the tap rooms at night.
Boston.com surveyed readers last fall asking if kids belong in breweries, and the majority of the more than 1,200 who responded answered no.
Reader Bonnie T. from Braintree said, “Kids don’t belong in bars. Breweries are bars. You have kids, get a babysitter.”
Despite challenges, new breweries continue to find their place in Massachusetts.
Drawdown Brewing opened their doors at the end of 2023 and has found success in Jamaica Plain. The brewery is woman and LGBTQ+ owned, and was named the best place to watch women’s sports in 2024 by Boston magazine.
“It’s all about striving to be an excellent space that fills a void in the market,” said founder and owner Liz Nicol.
We asked readers to help us update our guide to the best breweries across Massachusetts, and received hundreds of votes. Below find an updated interactive map and full list of reader-recommended breweries across the state.