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 Raleigh, 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.
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 Raleigh, 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.
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 Raleigh, 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.
Trademarks in the U.S. can last indefinitely, but did you know that clients in Raleigh, 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.
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 Raleigh, NC, 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.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Colleges and universities across the country are navigating the Trump administration's crackdown on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This includes right here in North Carolina.Under President Donald Trump's new executive order issued on Jan. 20, federal agencies were instructed to eliminate DEI con...
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Colleges and universities across the country are navigating the Trump administration's crackdown on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This includes right here in North Carolina.
Under President Donald Trump's new executive order issued on Jan. 20, federal agencies were instructed to eliminate DEI consideration from their processes. Agencies must comply to continue to receive federal funding.
A spokesperson for NC State sent ABC11 this statement about the changes: "In response to federal directives on sponsored programs (research), NC State's guidance is to cease the specific DEI activities in a project's solicitation or proposal; other project work can continue unless a stop-work order is received."
The school has received a Stop Work order for all project activities on specific awards and orders to cease certain activities related to Executive Order.
ABC11 spoke to students on Friday who want to learn more about how the change will impact their day-to-day experience at the university.
"I was watching the inauguration and I saw President Trump was signing executive orders. I guess for NC State I have not heard about that yet. So hopefully they will send us a message and I can look into it more, to actually learn about what they are going to do," said student Ashton Sumpter.
DEI has been a hot topic lately. It is a framework to promote fair treatment and full participation of people from groups who have historically been underrepresented or discriminated against such as women, veterans, and minorities.
Well before Trump took office and issued his DEI targeted executive order, the University of North Carolina Board of Governors (UNC BOG) voted to repeal its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs at all of its schools in May 2024.
In September, the UNC BOG announced that changes at all 17 schools saved around $17 million.
NC State led position reassignments - moving 29 people to new positions and departments. UNC-Chapel Hill realigned 27 positions.
According to a report from the BOG, almost 200 diversity, equity and inclusion staff positions were either cut or reassigned across North Carolina's public university system to comply with a systemwide policy that required institutions to reassess their diversity efforts. UNC System leaders said the changes allowed schools to redirect more than $16 million to success initiatives, such as recruitment efforts and scholarships.
EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this report incorrectly stated the university directed faculty to stop working on any project that has anything to do with DEI. This is not true. All DEI-specific program activities must be stopped until further instruction is received from the federal sponsor. Other project activities should continue.
Copyright © 2025 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Ancora Education, a workforce solutions provider, is announcing their CDL Training: Class A Tractor Trailer program will be available at their Miller-Motte College campus in Raleigh, North Carolina.“Our CDL program is a short-term path preparing students for the CDL: Class A licensing exam,” said Molly Carney, ...
RALEIGH, N.C. — Ancora Education, a workforce solutions provider, is announcing their CDL Training: Class A Tractor Trailer program will be available at their Miller-Motte College campus in Raleigh, North Carolina.
“Our CDL program is a short-term path preparing students for the CDL: Class A licensing exam,” said Molly Carney, executive director at Miller-Motte College in Raleigh. “By completing this curriculum, students can jumpstart a career path which is flexible, dependable, and important to keep our economy moving.”
Four Week Program
Miller-Motte’s four week program provides an opportunity for local residents to start or change careers by preparing them to obtain a CDL and ultimately to assume driver responsibilities on the road and at pickup/delivery points. Emphasis is placed on vehicle inspections, defensive driving, range maneuvers, motor carrier safety regulations (DOT 380 -397 and a certificate for entry-level drivers), trip planning, cargo handling, size/weight laws, general maintenance procedures, hours of service, and accident prevention. All training and instruction is done at school facilities and/or in school-provided equipment.
Required to operate any combination of vehicles with a Gross Combination Weight Rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more, the CDL: Class A designation refers to a towed vehicle which is heavier than 10,000 pounds. Class A vehicles can include tractor-trailers, truck and trailer combinations, tanker vehicles, livestock carriers, and flatbeds.
Upon passing a licensing exam, graduates can fill one of the many open positions within the transportation industry. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the employment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers to grow five percent between 2023 and 2033 – that’s 100,000 openings for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers projected each year over the next decade.
Programs Available Across the Country
Ancora operates over 200 CDL programs across the United States at its Miller-Motte College, Miller-Motte Driving Institute, South Texas Vocational Technical Institute, Arizona Automotive Institute, and Berks Technical Institute campuses, as well as through partnerships with community colleges, corporate businesses and local governments.
The CDL: Class A program will begin on February 3, 2025, for day starts and February 22, 2025, for weekend starts, at Miller-Motte in Raleigh. Enrollment is now open. For more information and/or to register, visit miller-motte.edu.
Dana Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has been featured in multiple newspapers, books and magazines across the globe. She is currently based in the Atlanta, Georgia, area.
The City of Raleigh’s annual Seasonal Loose Leaf Collection is here to help you keep your lawn tidy throughout the fall and winter months. This convenient service allows residents to rake leaves from their lawns into piles near the curb, where they will be efficiently collected by our specialized vacuum equipment.To streamline the process, the City of Raleigh is divided into ...
The City of Raleigh’s annual Seasonal Loose Leaf Collection is here to help you keep your lawn tidy throughout the fall and winter months. This convenient service allows residents to rake leaves from their lawns into piles near the curb, where they will be efficiently collected by our specialized vacuum equipment.
To streamline the process, the City of Raleigh is divided into 12 zones ensuring that every neighborhood receives timely leaf collection.
Please remember to place your leaves near the curb and not in the street to facilitate smooth and effective pickup!
Enter your home address in city limits to find your leaf collection zone. For best results, click on the auto-populated address that appears as you type.
If you believe our collection crews missed your leaves by mistake, please take a few moments to complete the form below. Your request will be submitted to one of our supervisors for review and/or scheduling. You will receive a reply to your request.Submit Missed Collection Form
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This is an overview of leaf collection service citywide. Click on the key in the top right corner of the map (three lines) to see the status per zone.
Loose leaf collection is a residential service for citizens living inside the Raleigh city limits who do their own yard work.
Learn more about the basics of annual leaf collection!
Where do you live in the City of Raleigh? Want more information about your zone. Visit leaf collection zones to determine your neighborhood zone and what city areas are covered.
Leaf Collections Do's and Don'ts
The City of Raleigh offers several disposal options to its residents, but would like to make people aware there are also some environmentally-friendly alternatives.
Optional Methods for Leaf Disposal
A pair of historic North Carolina barbecue joints are snuffing out the smokehouses after a collective century and a half in business.Short Sugar’s in Reidsville and Kepley’s in High Point are the latest longtime barbecue restaurants to close, joining a growing list of lost North Carolina barbecue legends.The distinctive Reidsville restaurant Short Sugar’s BBQ closed for good last week, according to several neighboring businesses, ending its run after 76 years.Owned by David and Lea Wilson,...
A pair of historic North Carolina barbecue joints are snuffing out the smokehouses after a collective century and a half in business.
Short Sugar’s in Reidsville and Kepley’s in High Point are the latest longtime barbecue restaurants to close, joining a growing list of lost North Carolina barbecue legends.
The distinctive Reidsville restaurant Short Sugar’s BBQ closed for good last week, according to several neighboring businesses, ending its run after 76 years.
Owned by David and Lea Wilson, Short Sugar’s was among the oldest barbecue restaurants in the state. Short Sugar’s is on the North Carolina Barbecue Society’s Historic BBQ Trail.
Short Sugar’s first opened in 1949, owned by brothers Johnny and Clyde Overby. It was named in honor of a deceased third brother, Eldridge, whose nickname was Short Sugar, owner David Wilson said in a 2011 interview with the Southern Foodways Alliance. Wilson became involved with the restaurant in 1980 after the death of his father-in-law Johnny Overby.
Something of a rarity in North Carolina barbecue, Short Sugar’s was at its heart a drive-in. In its hey-day, its parking lot was filled with cars and teenagers in the evenings and was a center of Reidsville’s nightlife.
“There are a lot of interesting stories,” Wilson said in the SFA interview. “There were professional wrestlers that would be going between Greensboro and Danville in this area and they would stop in all buddy-buddy eating together and then they’d go wrestle and want to kill each other, you know that type of thing. It has a real history.”
Short Sugar’s smoked mostly pork shoulders in the Lexington-style tradition. But it served a distinctively thin, dark and sweet barbecue sauce, with the pork ordered minced, chopped or sliced.
In recent years, operating hours could be sporadic at Short Sugar’s, according to neighbors, noting that staffing was occasionally too short to open the restaurant.
In a text message, Wilson declined to comment.
In High Point, Kepley’s BBQ announced that it will close on Feb. 8.
Opened in 1948 as a barbecue joint in an old metal military surplus building, Kepley’s was founded by original owner Hayden Kepley. But for most of its history it has been owned and co-owned by Bob Burleson, who started working as a teenage carhop in 1948. Burleson bought the restaurant in 1962.
Burleson passed away in 2022 at 90 years old, with his daughter Susan Burleson taking over the restaurant.
The closing of Kepley’s was first reported by the High Point Enterprise.
Kepley’s was a Lexington-style restaurant, smoking shoulders and serving its sauce and slaw with a red tinge.
Sensing a demand for a last chance for Kepley’s barbecue from near and far, Burleson posted on the restaurant’s Facebook page that diners can call and arrange for shipments.
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This story was originally published January 28, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
Highly Suspect powers through sickness to deliver an inspired and impassioned performance supported by the voices of a thousand fans.One thousand passionate fans came together at The Ritz in Raleigh, NC, to welcome Highly Suspect back to town. The majority of the extremely enthusiastic audience wore a hat, t-shirt, or some form of Highly Suspect band gear as if it were a pledge of unwavering loyalty to the band they love. From start to finish, the venue was electric and alive.A new band from Long Beach, NY, nam...
Highly Suspect powers through sickness to deliver an inspired and impassioned performance supported by the voices of a thousand fans.
One thousand passionate fans came together at The Ritz in Raleigh, NC, to welcome Highly Suspect back to town. The majority of the extremely enthusiastic audience wore a hat, t-shirt, or some form of Highly Suspect band gear as if it were a pledge of unwavering loyalty to the band they love. From start to finish, the venue was electric and alive.
A new band from Long Beach, NY, named Family Dinner opened the show. Family Dinner released their debut album, God Looks Out For Fools in 2024 and their energetic show got the audience warmed up nicely. Their vibe was like they were of a bunch of friends who started a band and were now playing a summertime show in someone’s backyard. Their energy was sourced by pure fun, everyone on stage was having a great time and loving every minute. After explaining the last time they played Raleigh, it was in a record store to about seven people, it made total sense why Family Dinner was playing it so hard. The setlist included opener “M.P.D.G.” and “God Looks Out For Fools” which set the fast pace for the majority of their set. Even for slower songs, such as “Helianthus,” Family Dinner kept the energy high, the bass and drums in front of the sound, and continually raised the audience’s energy rapidly filling the venue for the headliner soon to come.
Traveling all the way from the UK with only five days’ notice, James and the Cold Gun filled the supporting slot. Very few in the audience were familiar with the band in advance, but at the end of their set every single person in The Ritz was going nuts for a pounding, high-octane show no one saw coming. Sexy, sweaty, and expertly disheveled as if coming straight out of an Abercrombie & Fitch advertisement, the band started with the song “Face In The Mirror” and left no question their performance was going to rock hard.
Replacement drummer Myles Ulrich from the band Taipei Houston, became drenched in sweat and huffing for breath just two songs into the set. Myles joined the band for this tour because due to the short notice, regular drummer Jack Wrench was unable to make the trek. The band plus Myles sounded like they had been performing together for years; tight, furious, and loud. The nine-song set riled up the audience and generated a reaction suitable for a headlining band. An unknown band supporting an artist as beloved as Highly Suspect shouldn’t expect to receive such a loud and raucous audience reaction as James and the Cold Gun received. Perhaps that’s why founder and vocalist James Joseph choked up a bit when he claimed tonight was the best show of his life.
Arriving on stage almost perfectly on time, Highly Suspect was welcomed by one thousand adoring fans screaming their welcomes to Raleigh. Vocalist Johnny Stevens strode out onto the stage in a wool cap and heavy sweatshirt. As he greeted the audience, he apologized for being on the backside of a cold that was making it difficult to sing. Johnny received a resounding “yes” when he asked the audience to help him and sing loudly when he needed a break. Johnny may have been ill but the band was vibrant and alive. As if electrified by James and the Cold Gun, who have a similar garage band-ish version of Highly Suspect’s sound, Highly Suspect opened their set with “Bath Salts” and the energy from the stage was massive.
Heavily featuring songs from albums As Above, So Below and Mister Asylum, audience favorites “Lydia” and “Summertime Voodoo” mixed in with space-age groovy “The Reset” and hard-rocking “Suicide Machine.” Every song was filled with emotion, fueled primarily by Johnny’s soulful and intricate guitar playing, but everyone on stage was working to give the performance of their lives. Highly Suspect delivered an impassioned performance that exceeded expectations in every way.
The As Above, So Below Tour 2025 continues through February 16, ending in Mobile, AL. There is no weak link in this bill of bands so show up early!
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