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 Miami, FL.
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 Miami, FL, 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 Miami, FL.
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 Miami, FL 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 Miami, FL, 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.
NFL Star Randy Moss is scaling his presence in the restaurant space.As previously reported by AFROTECH™, Moss became an investor in Brittany Tolliferreo’s Philadelphia, PA-based restaurant chain, Chick-A-Boom, in 2023. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Tolliferreo ...
NFL Star Randy Moss is scaling his presence in the restaurant space.
As previously reported by AFROTECH™, Moss became an investor in Brittany Tolliferreo’s Philadelphia, PA-based restaurant chain, Chick-A-Boom, in 2023. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Tolliferreo reached out to Moss via direct message, and then he later liked a sponsored Chick-A-Boom post in 2022, sparking further conversation.
“We got on a couple of Zoom calls, and he came here, tasted the product, and loved it. From there, he became my partner,” she told the outlet.
Speaking on the investment in a press release, Moss commented:
“I’m a chicken lover. Not only was I impressed by the food, but after hearing Brittany’s story and understanding that a lot of our same goals and morals align, it was only right to invest.”
Today, Moss is expanding his involvement in the company, now operating under the name Crisppi’s Chicken. In December 2023, he brought the restaurant to his home state with the help of Tolliferreo and Kirk Hightower, who serves as a partner.
“For the first time I found a a great product with Brittany and Kirk out of Pennsylvania and they just told me how good their product was and tasted the product and within the first 10 to 15 seconds the first thing I looked in Kirk’s eyes and I said ‘I have to bring this home back to my people,'” he said at the time in a video shared by Spiced Up Productions.
What’s more, Moss is set to bring the restaurant to Florida in January 2025, according to a press release shared with AFROTECH™.
Menu items are described to deliver an “explosive flavor” and will include chicken sandwiches, chicken wings, chicken and waffles, chicken nuggets, and more.
“At Crisppi’s, we believe every meal should be an unforgettable experience. Therefore, our menu brings you a celebration of flavors, bringing together the finest ingredients, secret spices, and a passion for perfection in every dish,” Moss said in the release.
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The restaurant will welcome customers in Miami’s downtown, located at 2917 Biscayne Blvd. A soft opening will be held and will welcome celebrities, athletes, and tastemakers in the city.
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Samantha Dorisca is a Houston-based journalist and photographer whose mission is to impact communities through the gift of storytelling using the written word or visual media. She completed her B.A at The University of Texas at Austin and is pursuing a M.A at The University of Memphis. Her work can be found on platforms such as Houstonia Magazine, Girls' Life Magazine, and Blacque Magazine. Samantha mainly reports on tech, trends, and entrepreneurship.
The Miami Hurricanes control their own destiny — one win and they’re in the ACC Championship Game. However, standing in the way is a Kyle McCord-led Syracuse Orange team that has the ability to pull off an upset.Can the Hurri...
The Miami Hurricanes control their own destiny — one win and they’re in the ACC Championship Game. However, standing in the way is a Kyle McCord-led Syracuse Orange team that has the ability to pull off an upset.
Can the Hurricanes survive to play for a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff? Find out our thoughts on the spread and total in this Miami (FL) vs. Syracuse prediction.
All Miami (FL) vs. Syracuse odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
Miami’s path is clear: win one more and enter the ACC championship at 11-1 with a chance to win and earn a first-round bye. But Syracuse might be the quietest 8-3 team in college football and has experienced enormous success in its first year under Fran Brown.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
The spread feels a bit high here, but the Orange are 11-point underdogs. The total shows the talent on offense, and with a total set at 67.5 points, sportsbooks imply a final score close to 39-28, in favor of the Hurricanes.
CFN’s FPM isn’t quite as high on the Hurricanes, giving them a 68.8% chance to win Saturday. The Hurricanes will then need to beat the SMU Mustangs to ensure themselves a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Syracuse has a 31.2% chance to win at home, per FPM. The Orange would move to 9-3 with a win and finish in the top 25 of the College Football Playoff rankings. While it certainly won’t be enough to challenge for an at-large bid, a 9-3 season would mark the most wins by a Syracuse team in 24 years.
While the spotlight is on the Hurricanes in this one, people seem to be overlooking a strong Syracuse team.
The Orange have handled business against most of their less talented and evenly matched opponents, quietly amassing an impressive 8-3 record. McCord just keeps slinging it, and he actually holds the lead over Cam Ward on the passing yardage leaderboard.
That explains the huge total in this game as Syracuse just keeps slinging the ball and faces a below-average Miami defense.
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Quarterback play is the key here. While these two QBs are the top two in the country in yardage — each likely reaching 4,000 passing yards this season — they’ve been prone to some terrible plays as well.
The two quarterbacks have 19 combined interceptions this season, including several that have been run back for touchdowns. Ward and McCord need to avoid the awful play.
That’s more important because each defense hasn’t been able to struggle. If one defense gets a couple of momentum-swinging plays, that team will likely win.
Ultimately, I trust Ward and the quick-strike Miami offense a bit more than I trust the methodical Orange. It’s just so hard to win when the offense scores on a 12-play, six-minute drive, only for the opposition to score in three plays.
If McCord has to press, I think he’s the first to blink and will make a big mistake at some point. Expect points, but maybe not a combined 68 points. Likewise, expect the Hurricanes to win, but probably not to cover.
Syracuse deserves more respect than to be a double-digit home underdog to a team that has won several close games this season. But, the Orange aren’t likely to win outright.
Give me Miami in another nervy win.
Prediction: Miami (FL) 35, Syracuse 27
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As if you needed another reason to look over your shoulder, a report has ranked several cities in the United States by safety to determine where residents can feel most secure–and it’s not looking great for the Sunshine State.In fact, one local city is in the top three most unsafe. Two other cities in Florida make the top 20–again, most unsafe. And Hialeah, meanwhile, may turn out to be South Florida's redeeming quality.But the devil’s in the details. The data broken down shows exactly in what categories...
As if you needed another reason to look over your shoulder, a report has ranked several cities in the United States by safety to determine where residents can feel most secure–and it’s not looking great for the Sunshine State.
In fact, one local city is in the top three most unsafe. Two other cities in Florida make the top 20–again, most unsafe. And Hialeah, meanwhile, may turn out to be South Florida's redeeming quality.
But the devil’s in the details. The data broken down shows exactly in what categories Florida ranks so poorly. Hint: Physical violence isn’t the only thing that leads to a lack of safety.
These are the safest (and most unsafe) cities in America in 2024, according to WalletHub.
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WalletHub determined a safety score for 182 cities in the country, and ranked them by this figure.
The most unsafe are Memphis, Tennessee, followed by Detroit, Michigan, which rank among the top five in assaults per capita.
And the third most unsafe city is none other than Fort Lauderdale in Broward County.
According to WalletHub, it ranks low in the home and community safety and financial safety categories, and high in the natural-disaster risk category.
If we take a closer look, we see it’s tied for most traffic fatalities per capita, and also tied for second-lowest percentage of households with emergency savings.
But if you’re confused about how that adds up to put it up there with Memphis and Detroit, take a look at how WalletHub calculates these rankings.
WalletHub weighed several data points to reach a score for three different categories (home and community safety, financial safety and natural-disaster risk). Then, they added them to get a total safety score.
But to determine the individual categories, they looked at metrics like:
Home and community safety:
In this category, Fort Lauderdale ranks no. 11.
Financial safety:
In this category, Fort Lauderdale ranks no. 7.
Natural-disaster risk:
In this category, Fort Lauderdale ranks no. 8.
The data shows that there are several other Florida cities that aren't all that safe, particularly when considering the percentage of households with emergency savings: Miami, Hialeah, Fort Lauderdale and Pembroke Pines are all tied in this category for second-lowest.
But let's show you the rankings before we dive into the details. Remember: this list is out of 182 cities.
The safest city in Florida
Port St. Lucie wins this title at no. 32. (And still, it ranks fairly low when it comes to financial safety.)
Hialeah safety ranking in Florida
But this is where Hialeah, dubbed "La Ciudad que Progresa" in Spanish (the City that Progresses, in English), earns bragging rights. According to the survey, it earns the title of second-safest in Florida, and ranks no. 53 in the country.
More facts about the safety of several Florida cities
Cape Coral follows closely behind Hialeah at no. 59. Then we have:
And of course, Fort Lauderdale at the bottom at no. 180.
If you're sick of the bad news and just want to know where you'll be moving to, alright, we won't make you wait any longer.
These are the safest cities in the U.S., according to WalletHub.
They all rank fairly high across the three major categories.
The "worst" thing you can say about any of them is that Warwick sits at no. 52 in terms of financial safety, and Boise is no. 46 in natural-disaster risk.
But anyway, why go so far in search of safety? Just move to Hialeah.
Game Start: 11/30/2024, 8:30 PM UTCLatest Odds: MIA -10.5 ; Total 67.5Miami vs Syracuse PredictionThe JMA Wireless Dome will play host to a Saturday afternoon college football clash between the Miami Hurricanes and the Syracuse Orange. Make sure you are ready for all the football action with our college football picks. The eighth-ranked Hurricanes (10-1) lead the n...
Game Start: 11/30/2024, 8:30 PM UTC
Latest Odds: MIA -10.5 ; Total 67.5
The JMA Wireless Dome will play host to a Saturday afternoon college football clash between the Miami Hurricanes and the Syracuse Orange. Make sure you are ready for all the football action with our college football picks. The eighth-ranked Hurricanes (10-1) lead the nation in total offense and are averaging an impressive 44.7 points per game. On Saturday, Miami outscored Wake Forest by 22 points in the fourth quarter during a 42-14 home victory.
Heisman Trophy candidate Cam Ward completed 27 of 38 passes for 280 yards and two a pair of touchdowns to Jacolby George. Mishael Powell added a 76-yard interception return touchdown for the Hurricanes, who outgained the Demon Deacons by a 508-193 margin.
The Syracuse Orange are a game above .500 on ACC Conference play and are trending in the right direction for first year head coach Fran Brown. The Orange (8-3) rank second nationally in passing offense and are scoring 31.7 points per contest. On Saturday, Syracuse rolled up 546 yards of total offense during a 31-24 home victory versus UConn.
Syracuse QB Kyle McCord threw for a career-best 470 yards and two scores. Versatile TE Oronde Gadsden II put Syracuse on the scoreboard first with a 22-yard touchdown reception. Darrell Gill Jr. contributed a game-high 177 receiving yards and Lequint Allen added a rushing touchdown for the Orange.
Miami is riding a six-game winning streak against Syracuse, but these two teams have not faced each other since 2017. The Orange have been in every game this season with the exception of a 41-13 road loss against Pittsburgh. The Hurricanes tend to keep things interesting and find a way to win. Look for Miami to win in a shootout that goes over the total. Final Score Prediction, Miami Hurricanes win 44-34.
Miami
The total has gone OVER in 10 of Miami-FL's last 14 games.
Miami-FL are 10-1 SU in their last 11 games.
Miami-FL are 4-2 ATS in their last 6 games against Syracuse.
Syracuse
Syracuse are 7-13 ATS in their last 20 games.
Syracuse are 6-2 SU in their last 8 games.
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Syracuse's last 5 games against Miami-FL.
OVER 67.5
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Three Florida cities are “booming” with jobs — and people interested in living there, a new report finds.So much so, the cities rank on a list of places where job growth and desirability are “well above national averages,” according to a Nov. 19 news release. Here are the suburbs that received recognition:The cities, all near Orlando, joined several other southeastern cities in ranking among ...
Three Florida cities are “booming” with jobs — and people interested in living there, a new report finds.
So much so, the cities rank on a list of places where job growth and desirability are “well above national averages,” according to a Nov. 19 news release. Here are the suburbs that received recognition:
The cities, all near Orlando, joined several other southeastern cities in ranking among the top 10 in the United States. The region “reigns supreme for its suburbs where people want to move in, and where far fewer residents (are) considering a move-out,” the moving website moveBuddha wrote in its report.
To create the list of hottest suburbs, the website studied more than 500 cities across the country. It narrowed the places to suburbs, defined as “any city in each metropolitan region that was not the single, primary (first) city listed in a ‘metro’ name,” a spokesperson told McClatchy News via email.
Using search data from its website and figures from the U.S. government, moveBuddha discovered that 43 suburbs met the criteria of having year-over-year job growth “better than the national average” and a high ratio of people interested in moving in compared with those wanting to leave. Each of those suburbs also was evaluated for home values based on Zillow real estate data, results show.
Of the Florida cities that made it onto the moveBuddha list, Winter Garden ranked the highest at No. 4. The city, east of Orlando, is home to about 47,000 people.
“Florida’s job-magnet suburb with the highest move-in interest is Winter Garden with 2.45 searches for moves in for every out,” the moveBuddha spokesperson wrote. “Not only is the city just 17 miles from Orlando, but what was once a farming community has blossomed into a beautiful suburban city with a walkable downtown, a slower pace, and smack dab in the center of Florida — it’s mostly sheltered from coastal storms.”
Though Winter Garden got a nod for attracting potential residents, it didn’t fare as well when it came to costs. It was found to be one of the nation’s least affordable suburbs, with an average home value of roughly $580,000.
Two other places in the Sunshine State also ranked among the nation’s “booming” suburbs, putting Florida in a tie with South Carolina for having the most cities in the top 10. Also joining Winter Garden on the list were the nearby cities of Davenport and Clermont.
So, how did other Florida areas fare in the rankings? Here’s where they landed:
Nationwide, moveBuddha said the most popular suburb was Summerville, South Carolina, near the tourist hot spot of Charleston. Here are the other cities that joined Winter Garden and Davenport in the top five: