Online Trademark Attorneys
Sausser Summers, PC
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File a Trademark for $399 + $250 Government Filing Fee
Trademark Attorney Working With Clients in Charlotte, NC
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 Charlotte, NC.
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.
- Trademark Attorney Working With Clients in Charlotte, NC
- Sausser Summers, PC: Simplifying the U.S. Trademark Process
- Do I Really Need a Trademark Attorney for Protecting My Business in Charlotte, NC?
- Additional Benefits of Using a Trademark Attorney
- What About Online Filing Services?
- Understanding Trademarks Over Time
- Steps to Renew Your Trademark
- Losing Your Trademark Rights Through Abandonment
- How to Avoid Having to Refile Your Trademark
- What Makes an Online Trademark Attorney Great?
- Trademark Attorneys Working Hard for You
Sausser Summers, PC: Simplifying the U.S. Trademark Process
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 Charlotte, NC, 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.
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.
Do I Really Need a Trademark Attorney for Protecting My Business in Charlotte, NC?
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.
Call
us (843) 654-0078Additional Benefits of Using a Trademark Attorney
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.
What About Online Filing Services?
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 Charlotte, NC.
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.
Understanding Trademarks Over Time
Trademarks in the U.S. can last indefinitely, but did you know that clients in Charlotte, NC 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.
Steps to Renew Your Trademark
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 Charlotte, NC, you can avoid the pitfalls and mistakes that can arise and cause you to lose your rights to the mark that represents it.
Losing Your Trademark Rights Through Abandonment
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.
Losing Your Trademark Rights Through Inappropriate Licensing
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.
How to Avoid Having to Refile Your Trademark
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.
What Makes an Online Trademark Attorney Great?
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:
- Be sure you're using a licensed trademark attorney helping clients in Charlotte, NC.
- It's best to work with a trademark lawyer who has years of experience filing trademarks.
- Ensure that your trademark lawyer is willing to provide ongoing notifications relating to your trademark application process.
Trademark Attorneys Working Hard for You
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.
Latest News in Charlotte, NC
Bob Lacey To Retire From Bob & Sheri Show
RadioInsighthttps://radioinsight.com/headlines/292176/bob-lacey-to-retire-from-bob-sheri-show/
Bob Lacey will retire from the Now! Media’s syndicated Bob & Sheri morning show at the end of January.Lacey and Sheri Lynch have been teamed together since 1992 when she was brought on as his co-host on then AC “Sunny 107.9” WBT-FM (later WWSN) Charlotte NC They would remain on that station through its rebrands as “Hits 107.9” in 1996 and “107.9 The Link” WLNK in 1997 ...
Bob Lacey will retire from the Now! Media’s syndicated Bob & Sheri morning show at the end of January.
Lacey and Sheri Lynch have been teamed together since 1992 when she was brought on as his co-host on then AC “Sunny 107.9” WBT-FM (later WWSN) Charlotte NC They would remain on that station through its rebrands as “Hits 107.9” in 1996 and “107.9 The Link” WLNK in 1997 until April 2021. The show quickly found a new flagship in Charlotte joining Beasley’s “K104.7” WKQC weeks later.
Beginning his radio career as a teenager, Lacey’s career took off when he joined 1110 WBT Charlotte in 1971 as evening host and then hosting mornings from 1975 to 1980. After spending the 1980’s as the local Charlotte host and a national reporter for the syndicated television show “PM Magazine”, he returned to radio in 1990 to host mornings on 107.9 WBT-FM.
In making the announcement this morning, Lacey said he will be spending more time traveling and relaxing with his family. He noted that he no longer recognized many of the people being talked about on an entertainment show stating that, “If you do what we do and you’re not familiar with Bunnie XO you need to find out about Bunnie XO, but I just don’t want to at this point in my life. I’m just going to be honest.” After breaking down in tears he continued, “I have been so blessed by the audience… Some of the folks have been with me for 40 years. That’s a long time to put up with Bob Lacey. I can’t thank you enough. I started as a teenage and here we are.”
Now! Media co-founder Tony Garcia commented, “We knew this day was going to come, we just didn’t know it would be today. Knowing it was coming, we’ve done the research, and we’re prepared. The show is strong and will continue as Bob & Sheri.” He added, “We’ve always been a listener-first company and show. We gave Bob the decision and the space to make this announcement the way he wanted to. We remain as committed to our affiliates and our listeners as we’ve always been, and the show goes on.”
Lynch said, “No one has worked harder and contributed more creativity, vision, and strategy than Bob. Bob has earned the right to choose the timing of his retirement. I could not be more proud of him and honored to have been his partner. I’m weepy to see him go.”
Lacey’s final show will be Friday, January 31. Lynch will continue anchoring the program with team members Lamar Richardson, Max Sweeten, and Kary Bowser.
One half of the 'Bob & Sheri' radio show is retiring
wcnc.comhttps://www.wcnc.com/article/entertainment/radio-show-bob-lacey-announces-retirement/275-8979d878-c1a2-4541-8035-184cd200033a
Bob Lacey told radio listeners on Monday he would retire at the end of January.CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bob Lacey, co-host of the syndicated "Bob & Sheri" radio show, announced on Monday he would be retiring after decades in broadcasting."As I call it a day, I just want you to know how much I appreciate you," Lacey said.Lacey told listeners his last day would be at the end of January. Lacey thanked his listeners and co-host, She...
Bob Lacey told radio listeners on Monday he would retire at the end of January.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bob Lacey, co-host of the syndicated "Bob & Sheri" radio show, announced on Monday he would be retiring after decades in broadcasting.
"As I call it a day, I just want you to know how much I appreciate you," Lacey said.
Lacey told listeners his last day would be at the end of January. Lacey thanked his listeners and co-host, Sheri Lynch. Lacey described his broadcast partner as the longest relationship he's ever had.
RELATED: “The Big Show with John Boy & Billy” leaves Charlotte radio station
"Bob & Sheri" is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based syndicated radio show. Lynch told listeners she would stay with the show. Lynch said she had never worked a day in radio without Lacey by her side.
In Charlotte, "Bob & Sheri" can currently be heard during the morning hours on K104.7 (WKQC-FM). Before 2021, the show had been heard on 107.9 WLNK-FM for nearly three decades. It was on that station, then known as WBT-FM, the show launched in its current format in 1992, according to Radio Insight. The show entered syndication in 1996.
"The end of a legacy for sure," one listener said on the show's Facebook page after the news was announced. "I started listening to "Bob & Sheri" as a freshman at Clemson in 1992.
Bob Lacey Announces His RetirementThis morning, Bob announced on the show that he's retiring at the end of January. We fully support his decision to hang up the microphone and spend more time traveling and relaxing with his family. We hope you join us in congratulating Bob Lacey on an incredible career in radio and television!
Posted by Bob & Sheri on Monday, January 13, 2025
Lacey said he had been considering retirement for over a year but only came to his final decision over the holiday season. He plans to spend more time with his friends and family in Hilton Head, South Carolina, where he currently lives.
"This show has been a staple in my life since day one," another listener wrote on social media. "You will be missed."
Lacey and Lynch spend the next two weeks of broadcasts reminiscing about their favorite memories.
In November, Charlotte radio listeners also said goodbye to “The Big Show with John Boy & Billy,” which broadcasts its last episode on 99.7 The Fox on Friday, iHeartMedia confirmed to WCNC Charlotte. Despite leaving its longtime station, that show continues in syndication in other cities and through their podcast.
There's something hiding behind tonight's full moon
wcnc.comhttps://www.wcnc.com/article/weather/weather-iq/mars-disappear-moon-occultation-space-sky/275-b02cb582-04e9-42f6-a4cc-a13033455e46
What is called an occultation will happen around 9 p.m. during the evening of January 13.CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The full moon on Monday, Jan. 13 will also be joined by the fourth rock from the sun, Mars. The two will do something called an occultation, which is when the moon obscures a celestial body such as a planet.While the entire process of the occultation lasts between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., the main event is around 9 p.m. in the Carolinas.Mar...
What is called an occultation will happen around 9 p.m. during the evening of January 13.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The full moon on Monday, Jan. 13 will also be joined by the fourth rock from the sun, Mars. The two will do something called an occultation, which is when the moon obscures a celestial body such as a planet.
While the entire process of the occultation lasts between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., the main event is around 9 p.m. in the Carolinas.
Mars is two days away from being directly opposite the sun. That position is called opposition. With Mars so close to opposition, and the moon being full, that means both Mars and the Moon will be shining bright on Monday night.
The brightest of Mars is expected to disappear just as the Moon blocks our view of the planet for about an hour and 15 minutes.
In some ways, the event is similar to a solar eclipse, when the moon blocks out the sun. Except in this case, the moon is blocking out Mars, which by comparison, is much smaller - and less dramatic - than the sun disappearing.
The moon is going to eat Mars this evening!!!! Well kind of... The Moon will block Mars for about an hour and 15 minutes starting around 9 PM this evening. This process is called occultation. @wcnc pic.twitter.com/OofR4LGMxW
— Chris Mulcahy (@YOURWEATHERMAN) January 13, 2025
These occultations happen throughout the year but this one is special because it is during a full moon - and the Wolf Moon is the first full moon of 2025.
Credit: WCNC Charlotte
Dealing with Rodents in your home?
Charlotte, NC Patchhttps://patch.com/north-carolina/charlotte/classifieds/gigs-services/506074/dealing-with-rodents-in-your-home
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Lottery player scores huge prize in ‘blowout’ NC drawing. ‘Right place, right time’
Simone Jasperhttps://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article298447638.html
A lottery player tried his luck on a “blowout” drawing — and scored a huge prize.“It was just the right place, right time,” Christopher Engels, who won $100,000, told the North Carolina Education Lottery.Engels scored one of three top prizes in the ...
A lottery player tried his luck on a “blowout” drawing — and scored a huge prize.
“It was just the right place, right time,” Christopher Engels, who won $100,000, told the North Carolina Education Lottery.
Engels scored one of three top prizes in the Season End Blowout drawing. To enter the Jan. 8 drawing online, lottery players could redeem points they had accumulated from past tickets, lottery officials wrote in news releases and an email to McClatchy News.
This time around, the winners were chosen from more than 5 million entries. Engels, who said he enters each second-chance drawing he can, was thrilled that his efforts finally paid off.
Christopher Engels of Kannapolis always enters Second Chance drawings and on Wednesday it paid off with a $100,000 top prize! “It was just the right place, right time,” Engels said. Engels won his lucky prize in the Season End Blowout drawing. Congrats! https://t.co/prf19k0NYn pic.twitter.com/exCqlqdIYY
— NC Education Lottery (@nclottery) January 10, 2025
“I was definitely happy and excited,” Engels said.
The lucky winner is from Kannapolis, a roughly 25-mile drive northeast from uptown Charlotte. He visited the lottery’s headquarters in Raleigh to cash in on his prize, which totaled $71,750 after taxes.
“For the past two or three years I’ve been wanting to come to Raleigh but I wanted to win a big prize so I would have a good reason to come here,” Engels said.
It’s not the first time a North Carolina lottery player’s tradition has led to a windfall. In 2023, a woman who regularly enters second-chance drawings also hit the jackpot, McClatchy News reported.
Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.
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