Online Trademark Attorneys
Sausser Summers, PC
- Lower Cost
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File a Trademark for $399 + $250 Government Filing Fee
Trademark Attorney Working With Clients in Fresno, CA
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 Fresno, CA.
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.
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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 Fresno, CA, 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 Fresno, CA?
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 Fresno, CA.
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 Fresno, CA 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 Fresno, CA, 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 Fresno, CA.
- 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 Fresno, CA
Mad Duck opening fourth brewpub, in growing part of Fresno. Here’s an early sneak peek
Bethany Cloughhttps://www.fresnobee.com/living/food-drink/bethany-clough/article287604670.html
Inside Look is a Fresno Bee series where we take readers behind the scenes at restaurants, new businesses, local landmarks and news stories.The Duck is growing up.Mad Duck Craft Brewing Co. opens its fourth brewpub and restaurant — with its biggest dining room yet — at 11 a.m. Tuesday.The same group of guys who 14 years ago brought...
Inside Look is a Fresno Bee series where we take readers behind the scenes at restaurants, new businesses, local landmarks and news stories.
The Duck is growing up.
Mad Duck Craft Brewing Co. opens its fourth brewpub and restaurant — with its biggest dining room yet — at 11 a.m. Tuesday.
The same group of guys who 14 years ago brought us The Mad Duck in Clovis — dubbed the “baby duck” for its small size and early beginnings — have moved into a swanky new neighborhood.
It’s in the Copper River area, at the northwest corner of Copper and Maple avenues. Just look for the giant yellow duck on the newly constructed building.
“We’re hitting the four corners of the city,” said Jacob Urive, one of the owners and chief operating officer. “We’re really excited to be in another part of town.
It joins the “baby duck” at Herndon and Willow avenues, along with the Campus Pointe location near Fresno State that opened in 2015. That location is also the site of Mad Duck’s first brewery of its own.
The northwest location at Herndon and Marks avenues opened in 2019. Mad Duck needed even more brewing capacity, so that one also has a brewing operation.
When the owners started the baby duck, they were in their 20s. They’ve grown up alongside the business, getting married and having children, and they’re now in their 40s.
“I always think of us as a scrappy band of rebels,” said Alex Costa, one of the owners. “We all had a little more hair and a little less waist when we started this.”
But now the scrappy dudes are successful enough they’ve moved on up to an upscale neighborhood.
For years, the Rite-Aid and the Field House, a sports-themed bar and restaurant, were about the only businesses in this far-flung corner of town. A Starbucks eventually joined them.
Now, new large houses and apartments are being hammered out all around them.
Mad Duck’s new corner is also home to a Granville shopping center.
In addition to the nearby NorthPointe Animal Hospital, a boba and drink place is coming to the corner. Another building will be built soon.
Of course, Mad Duck is known for its beer.
This location does not have a brewery on site, but its beer is on tap and for sale in cans.
Its honey pot blonde ale is a crowd favorite. And the owners are trying out a Mexican-style version of its regular El Pato Loco (Spanish for Mad Duck) that’s lighter and bubblier.
There are also wine, mocktails and cocktails, including barrel-aged drinks made by the brewing team.
As for the food, Costa said even he was surprised that Mad Duck became known for its tater tots. The crunchy tater tots pair especially well with its housemade honey mustard sauce (almost everything is made in-house, including its hummus).
“We’re always going to be inextricably intertwined with the beer pub culture,” he explained.
The menu here is the same as at the other Mad Duck locations. New this week at all locations are seasonal menus in addition to the main menu. They include caprese salad when tomatoes are in season, for example.
The restaurants are known for their eclectic but non-fussy food: the jalapeño goat cheese burger, garlic fries, steak salad, and deviled eggs.
“This is isn’t a special occasion place. This is an everyday place,” said Costa.
It’s not the type of place where you go to be seen, he jokes. (That’s a different part of north Fresno.) But it’s the type of place where you go with the kids after their sports games. The owners know because they do this with their own families.
“We’re just not quite that hip,“ Costa said. “We’re not trying to reinvent ourselves. We’re just trying to expand the flock.”
Details: Mad Duck is at 1974 E. Copper Ave. Hours are still being finalized, but it opens at 11 a.m. daily and closes at 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. 559-319-6207.
This story was originally published April 15, 2024, 2:25 PM.
Transfer Portal Palooza Sale: 60% off year of BarkBoard VIP
Jackson Moorehttps://247sports.com/college/san-jose-state/article/fresno-state-football-transfer-portal-palooza-sale-60-off-year-of-barkboard-vip-bulldogs-spring-football-practice-reports-mens-basketball-vance-walberg-recruiting--230497649/
The NCAA Transfer Portal is officially open and BarkBoard + 247Sports are here to kick off Portal Palooza! To keep you covered, we are offering a massive VIP sale to get in on insider-only Fresno State football and men's basketball updates. When you join now as a new member, you'll get 60% off a year of VIP! This deal runs until 9 p.m. PT on April 17 and then it's gone!The 60 percent-off deal gets you instant acces...
The NCAA Transfer Portal is officially open and BarkBoard + 247Sports are here to kick off Portal Palooza! To keep you covered, we are offering a massive VIP sale to get in on insider-only Fresno State football and men's basketball updates. When you join now as a new member, you'll get 60% off a year of VIP! This deal runs until 9 p.m. PT on April 17 and then it's gone!
The 60 percent-off deal gets you instant access to BarkBoard's in-depth and VIP-only Transfer Portal scoop, insider-only spring football practice report, new men's basketball intel for the Vance Walberg era, recruiting scoop, exclusive Bulldog interviews and more! And you will also stay covered through the 2024 football regular season, all of the 2024-25 men's basketball season, the 2025 recruiting cycle and much more that BarkBoard has to offer its VIP members.
And at 60 percent off, the cost is only $3.58 per month - that's less than a gallon of gas! But the deal only runs until April 17 at 9 p.m. PT.
Join now and get 60% off an Annual VIP Subscription - That’s $3.58 per month!
By signing up for VIP access to BarkBoard.com, you join the largest Fresno State Bulldog online community and the most in-depth and exclusive Fresno State football news and content available. BarkBoard.com has been operating since 1997 and has developed as a long-standing online home for the Fresno State community and the go-to place for Bulldog fans looking for reliable, accurate, and consistent recruiting and team news.
The first place to look is the BarkBoard Insider Board, where the BarkBoard staff breaks news and insider-only discussion is held. Click here to see the latest: https://247sports.com/college/fresno-state/board/bb-insider-103004/ -
With a BarkBoard.com VIP subscription, you'll get unlimited access to:
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Already a member? As a big thank you to all loyal VIP subscribers who are no longer on a promotional subscription price, you can use your BarkBoard VIP account for a complimentary subscription to Paramount+ - a $59.99 annual value provided to you for FREE. Stream 15,000+ episodes of your favorite shows, watch live TV and watch original series. To activate your Paramount+ account, simply visit https://247sports.com/my/options.
Terms: This deal will end at 11:59 p.m. ET 04/17/2024. This promotion is for new and monthly members only. 247Sports.com reserves the right to alter or cancel this promotion at any time. Please write [email protected] with any questions you may have.
Costco Tries Again at City Council for Big NW Fresno Move
David Taubhttps://gvwire.com/2024/04/15/costco-tries-again-at-city-council-for-big-nw-fresno-move/
Costco wants to move its northwest Fresno location to a bigger, better facility. After roadblocks at a city council meeting last month, the warehouse retailer will try again this Thursday.Councilmember Mike Karbassi said he supports Costco, but he withheld approval over concerns about traffic — specifically the routing of delivery trucks and the placement of a first-in-the-Central Valley-for-Costco car wash.“I’ll be meeting with staff, reviewing what they’ve said in the reports. I’m also going to a...
Costco wants to move its northwest Fresno location to a bigger, better facility. After roadblocks at a city council meeting last month, the warehouse retailer will try again this Thursday.
Councilmember Mike Karbassi said he supports Costco, but he withheld approval over concerns about traffic — specifically the routing of delivery trucks and the placement of a first-in-the-Central Valley-for-Costco car wash.
“I’ll be meeting with staff, reviewing what they’ve said in the reports. I’m also going to ask them in person to make sure that, on the record, they commit to whatever they have claimed,” Karbassi told GV Wire on Monday.
Costco said its lease at the current 4500 W. Shaw Avenue location (east of Golden State Boulevard, a notorious traffic jam because of the train tracks), expires in September 2025. It has the land and the plan to move to 7120 N. Riverside Drive, off of Herndon Avenue in northwest Fresno, by the end of 2025.
The proposed Costco includes a standard 163,000 square feet of floor space — however it is nearly 30,000 square feet larger than the West Shaw warehouse. The total warehouse space would be 219,000 square feet — with a “last-mile” delivery space.
The new Costco would also feature a 32-pump gas station, up from 12 at the current location.
Costco will present several traffic mitigation measures on Thursday. Turn lanes will be expanded from Herndon onto Arthur Avenue — which will be the eastern border, a road that does not yet exist — and Riverside Drive.
A new signal along Riverside into Costco will go along with an upgraded signal at Herndon and Riverside. There will be several “right in, right out” access in and out of Costco. Improvements at the nearby Golden State/Herndon signal are also planned.
Existing PG&E lines will be moved underground.
To help reduce sound, Costco plans to use rubberized hot-mix asphalt on North Riverside Drive, and construct a cinderblock wall at least six feet tall.
Delivery trucks will be restricted on the eastern side of Costco, using Arthur Avenue.
There are certain unavoidable impacts Costco said — temporary construction noise, increased vehicle miles traveled, and overflow traffic on Herndon Avenue and Golden West Boulevard.
At the March 7 hearing, Karbassi expressed concerns about the car wash.
Costco plans to build the car wash on the north end of the property, on the Spruce Avenue side. As part of construction, Spruce would be extended where it currently does not exist between Riverside Drive and Strother Avenue.
“I want them to be able to answer basic questions like, for example, what are you going to do if you decide to discontinue the car wash, which is a new product to Costco?”
The presentation included alternate plans for the property if a car wash is not included. It would either be used for more parking, or as an outparcel.
Karbassi said he is also concerned about waiting cars spilling out onto the road.
“People have to get into regular Costco, right? When the cars back up on the road, it affects the ability for customers to park and be able to go and shop. And of course, with all this VMT stuff, when you have idling cars, it doesn’t help the environment a whole lot,” Karbassi said.
VMT is an urban planning term, vehicle miles traveled, to measure traffic and environmental impact. Costco said that reducing VMT to acceptable levels is unavoidable “given the nature of Costco shopping.”
“Members purchase items in bulk at Costco facilities, making walking, biking, or transit trips to the warehouse impractical,” Costco said. The company estimates 129,325 daily VMT for the new warehouse. The current VMT, according to city environmental documents, is 120,000.
Costco said it has plans in place to help employees reduce their vehicle traffic, including ridesharing and subsidized public transit.
Messages to Costco representatives were not returned.
At the March 7 city council hearing, several councilmembers asked questions about the company’s employee relations and charitable contributions. At its revised presentation planned for Thursday, Costco wants to leave no doubts.
Costco plans to hire 15% more employees at the new location, from 279 to 339. The company has an employee turnover rate of 18% annually.
“We take care of our employees!” the presentation boasts. The company said it offers full benefits, with hourly earnings between $18 and $34 an hour.
Approximately $80,000 in the last year went to local organizations in the Fresno area, Costco said. The company donated more than 1,100 backpacks to local schools.
The city-owned Riverside Golf Course lies to the north of the proposed new Costco. A current condition would require Costco to build netting to avoid errant golf balls.
Costco said the condition does not apply to them.
“The condition is based on a code section that applies only to Private Recreational Sports Facilities. Costco is not such a facility nor is it located near one,” said Costco real estate development director Pari Holliday in a letter to the city.
Imposing the condition, Holliday said, would “set a precedent that the City may wish to avoid of installing netting.”
If a net installed, Costco wants to work together with the city, using a consultant on the best option.
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