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File a Trademark for $399 + $250 Government Filing Fee

Trademark Attorney Working With Clients in San Jose, 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 San Jose, 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.

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 San Jose, 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.

Online Trademark Attorney San Jose, CA
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 San Jose, 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.

Additional 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.

 Online Trademark Lawyer San Jose, CA

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 San Jose, CA.

 Trademark Attorney San Jose, 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 San Jose, 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.

 Trademark Law Firm San Jose, CA

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 San Jose, 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.

 Trademark Lawyer San Jose, CA
 Trademark Firm San Jose, CA

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 San Jose, 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 Registration Lawyer San Jose, CA

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.

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Next 48 HoursWeather Today in San Jose, CAFeels Like44°7:06 am5:37 pmHigh / Low--/42°Wind3 mphHumidity71%Dew Point37°Pressure30.00 inUV Index0 of 11Visibility10 miMoon PhaseWaxing GibbousDon't Miss...

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Nuts & Bolts: California trip opens in San Jose

Tampa Bay begins the new calendar year on Thursday against the SharksEverything you need to know ahead of Tampa Bay's matchup against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.When: Thursday, January 2 - 10:30 p.m. ET Where: SAP Center - San Jose, CA TV coverage: FanDuel Sports Network Radio coverage: 102.5 MHz-FM, ...

Tampa Bay begins the new calendar year on Thursday against the Sharks

Everything you need to know ahead of Tampa Bay's matchup against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

When: Thursday, January 2 - 10:30 p.m. ET Where: SAP Center - San Jose, CA TV coverage: FanDuel Sports Network Radio coverage: 102.5 MHz-FM, Lightning Radio 24/7 Stream: FanDuelSportsNetwork.com

Lines from Wednesday's Practice (subject to change) Forwards Jake Guentzel - Brayden Point - Nikita Kucherov Brandon Hagel - Anthony Cirelli - Conor Geekie Gage Goncalves - Nick Paul - Mitchell Chaffee Zemgus Girgensons - Luke Glendening - Mikey Eyssimont

Defensemen Victor Hedman - Darren Raddysh Ryan McDonagh - Erik Cernak Emil Lilleberg - Nick Perbix

Goaltenders Andrei Vasilevskiy Jonas Johansson

Thursday's Matchup The Tampa Bay Lightning visit the San Jose Sharks on Thursday to ring in the New Year and wrap up a two-game season series with their California opponent...Tampa Bay beat San Jose 8-1 at AMALIE Arena on Dec. 5...Six different players posted two-plus points in the win for Tampa Bay, which was led by Brayden Point’s four points (0-4—4)...Tampa Bay is 28-20-3 all-time against San Jose, A run which includes a 13-5-1 mark since 2014-15...Steven Stamkos leads the Lightning in career scoring against the Sharks with 15-16--31 in 23 games...Nikita Kucherov leads active players with 7-14—21 in 18 games, while Victor Hedman (5-15—20 in 23 games) and Brayden Point (6-13—19 in 14 games) are also near the top...Goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 20 of 21 shots in the Dec. 5 win for the Lightning and leads the franchise in career wins against the Sharks...Vasilevskiy is 8-2-0 with a .925 save percentage in 10 career starts against San Jose...Jonas Johansson’s lone start as a Bolt against the Sharks was a 23-save shutout victory on Oct. 26, 2023.

Tampa Bay Sports Item of the Game November & December Goal Puck Auction November and December goal pucks, scored by both Lightning players and opponents, are now up for auction. Bid now at TampaBaySports.com.

The Road Ahead Thursday, January 2 at San Jose Sharks Saturday, January 4 at Los Angeles Kings Sunday, January 5 at Anaheim Ducks

California universities launch ‘landmark’ AI quest for students and professors

SAN JOSE — The California State University system has teamed up with several major tech companies to launch a “landmark” quest to create an AI-powered higher education system.Related Articles...

SAN JOSE — The California State University system has teamed up with several major tech companies to launch a “landmark” quest to create an AI-powered higher education system.

San Jose State University and CSU East Bay in Hayward would be among the California state universities whose students and teachers could benefit from the artificial intelligence push.

Adobe, Google owner Alphabet, Nvidia, LinkedIn, Intel, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, IBM, OpenAI and Instructure are working with the universities to power the initiative.

“A rapidly growing creator economy and breakthrough AI technologies have increased the demand for AI literacy and creative skills across all industries,” said Brian Johnsrud, Adobe’s director of education, learning and advocacy.

The creator economy consists of people who use software to drive content directly to their customers. In California, it employed more than 800,000 people, or 4.6% of the state’s workforce, and supports nearly 875,00 local service jobs, according to Johnsrud.

“At SJSU, we are the Epicenter of the Future, already a leader in the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence,” San Jose State University President Cynthia Teniente-Matson said. “This system-wide announcement represents an exciting step forward, building on the AI work already taking place across CSU campuses.”

AI tools and training will be available to all 460,000 students and 63,000 faculty and staff across 23 universities, the California State University system said.

“All students will have access to tools like ChatGPT, ensuring they can engage with AI on their campuses and in their future careers while learning how to use them ethically,” Teniente-Matson said.

The impact would be profound, university and tech officials declared.

“This AI-powered higher education system could surpass any existing model in both scale and impact,” California State University and its tech partners said.

The university system expects to make the AI tools available within the next few weeks.

Besides state universities in San Jose and Hayward, the CSU system also has universities in San Francisco, Vallejo, Sonoma County and Monterey County.

“We are proud to announce this innovative, highly collaborative public-private initiative that will position the CSU as a global leader among higher education systems in the impactful, responsible and equitable adoption of artificial intelligence,” CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia said.

CSU will also work with OpenAI to deploy ChatGPT Edu, a version of ChatGPT offering advanced tools, security, and controls for educational institutions.

“The latest AI technologies can be used in many contexts, from academia to the workforce,” said CSU Chief Information Officer Ed Clark. “We are excited to work with industry leaders to help the CSU build on our success in an AI-driven economy.”

More than 30 of the world’s top 50 AI firms are based in California. However, more than 50% of the AI workforce in the United States is international, according to CSU officials.

“We’re thrilled to see this momentum grow, given SJSU’s leadership in building industry partnerships and collaborations with the city of San Jose,” Teniente-Matson said. “This additional support from system-wide leadership will only further fuel our spirit of innovation.”

The state university system hopes the effort will help it to develop an AI workforce for California.

“The comprehensive strategy will elevate our students’ educational experience across all fields of study, empower our faculty’s teaching and research, and help provide the highly educated workforce that will drive California’s future AI-driven economy,” Garcia said.

Plenty of jobs are at stake. A potentially huge number of these jobs don’t exist yet.

“AI and accelerated computing are pivotal to a new industrial revolution,” said Louis Stewart, Nvidia’s head of strategic initiatives. “Working with CSU, Nvidia will train faculty and students to use these advanced technologies to help unlock economic opportunities and drive innovation.”

Originally Published: February 4, 2025 at 12:55 PM PST

California teachers demand better pay, fully staffed schools as districts battle financial woes

Loading your audio articleNearly 80,000 educators in dozens of school districts across the state joined forces Tuesday to launch an unprecedented campaign for better wages.Educators in San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco, Berkeley, Hayward and West Contra Costa County joined 32 school districts across the state to demand higher wages and benefits, fully staffed schools and safe campuses in what the California Teachers Association dubbed the “We Can’t Wait Campaign.”David Goldberg, the president of the Cali...

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Nearly 80,000 educators in dozens of school districts across the state joined forces Tuesday to launch an unprecedented campaign for better wages.

Educators in San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco, Berkeley, Hayward and West Contra Costa County joined 32 school districts across the state to demand higher wages and benefits, fully staffed schools and safe campuses in what the California Teachers Association dubbed the “We Can’t Wait Campaign.”

David Goldberg, the president of the California Teachers Association, pointed out that California ranks in the bottom half of states for pupil spending and 48th in the nation for access to school counselors, despite being the fifth largest economy in the world.

“We are facing a crisis in our public schools. There are not enough educators on our school campuses,” Goldberg said. “The resources we do have are constantly under attack and threats of cuts…So if we don’t act now on behalf of California students (and) educators in school, when will the time be right? We can’t wait any longer.”

But educators’ demands come at a precarious moment in public education. California students continue to trail their peers across the nation in reading and math, executive orders from the Trump administration are causing panic among immigrant communities and leading to drops in student attendance and districts strapped for cash are being forced to consider school closures and steep budget cuts.

Lance Christensen, president of business advocacy group California Policy Partners, who lost an election to state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, said the timing of educators’ demands for higher wages is “not only unreasonable” but also not “self-reflective.”

“When less than 40% of our kids are at grade-level proficiency in math and English language arts, it makes me wonder what the unions are trying to advocate for in terms of better benefits and salaries. I think they have it backwards,” Christensen said. “Most districts’ budgets are anywhere from 91% to 93% personnel costs, which a huge amount of those are teachers salaries and pensions and benefits.”

But the California Teachers Association argues that not only do educators in the state struggle to pay rent and make ends meet, they’re also vastly underpaid as a field.

Sylvia Allegretto, a senior economist at the nonpartisan think tank Center for Economic and Policy Research, estimates the average weekly wage for California public school teachers in 2022 was $1,844, while other college graduates received an average weekly wage of $2,847.

California teachers’ salaries are determined by experience and education level. The average salary of a public school teacher for the 2021-22 school year was $88,508 and $95,160 for the 2022-23 school year – the highest in the nation.

But Allegretto said that while teachers in California and New York are often paid more than teachers in Alabama and Mississippi, that doesn’t account for the cost of living difference in those states.

San Jose Teachers Association president Renata Sanchez said the high cost of living in the Bay Area forces many educators to work multiple jobs in order to live in the communities where they teach.

“My mom taught for 37 years. She was able to purchase a home and comfortably raise a family of five on a teacher’s salary,” Sanchez said. “I’ve been teaching for 17 years and I cannot afford rent for a single-bedroom apartment by myself without commuting for hours away each day…The educator wage gap is wider than it has ever been.”

In November, San Jose voters approved a $1.15 billion bond measure – Measure R – that will be used to upgrade school facilities and provide employee housing. Four different housing sites are estimated to provide more than 600 rental units ranging from $650 a month to $900 a month, according to the San Jose Teachers Association, well below market rate.

San Jose Unified School District did not immediately respond to this news organization’s request for comment.

The ongoing impacts of declining enrollment and the end of pandemic funding for districts across the state have also led some to wonder if schools even have the funds needed to boost educators’ salaries.

Sanchez acknowledged the concern that school districts don’t have the money to provide the resources that students need.

“We know that the problems that we’re trying to solve, we can’t solve alone at our tables, because each individual school district is doing the best that they can,” she said. “We need the state to come in and provide more support to the schools and our school districts so that they do have that adequate funding.”

Oakland Unified is one district facing intense financial strain. The district is projected to run out of cash during the 2025-26 school year without significant intervention and has said it plans to consolidate up to 10 schools.

But Kampala Taiz-Rancifer, president of the Oakland Education Association, the teachers union, said the district does have the necessary resources to keep schools open and that it’s a matter of priorities.

“For many years, a systematic disinvestment in Oakland schools has really adversely impacted the quality and therefore enrollment in Oakland schools,” Taiz-Rancifer said. “Oakland educators joined this fight because we can’t wait any longer to create the stability that we need to improve outcomes for students.”

Oakland Unified School District did not immediately respond to this news organization’s request for comment.

Originally Published: February 4, 2025 at 4:17 PM PST

Gas prices hop higher in California, Bay Area after refinery blaze

MARTINEZ — Gasoline prices jumped slightly higher in the Bay Area in the wake of an explosion and fire over the weekend that knocked an East Bay refinery offline — although experts say it’s too soon to know the precise price impact.The incident ...

MARTINEZ — Gasoline prices jumped slightly higher in the Bay Area in the wake of an explosion and fire over the weekend that knocked an East Bay refinery offline — although experts say it’s too soon to know the precise price impact.

The incident on Saturday at the Martinez Refining Co. plant in northern Contra Costa County halted operations at the refinery.

RELATED: Martinez refinery workers return to work after gas-leak explosion and fire

Gasoline prices were a bit higher on Monday compared with Sunday in California, the South Bay, East Bay and San Francisco metro areas, this news organization’s review of the GasBuddy website shows.

Here is a summary of approximate average gas prices, as reported by GasBuddy, in the wake of the refinery fire. The prices were based on average pump costs for regular unleaded gas:

— California: On Sunday, prices were about $4.39 a gallon. By Monday night, prices jumped to $4.43 a gallon. By late afternoon on Tuesday, prices rose to $4.47.

— South Bay: Prices on Sunday were $4.33 but rose to $4.38 by Monday night. Prices reached $4.41 a gallon late Tuesday.

— Oakland: Gas prices on Sunday were $4.42 but leaped to roughly $4.46 by Monday night. Late Tuesday afternoon, prices rose slightly to $4.47.

— San Francisco: Prices on Sunday were $4.53 but jumped to $4.55 by Monday night. As of late Tuesday afternoon, per-gallon prices reached $4.57.

What wasn’t immediately clear, however, was the long-term impact the Martinez refinery fire portends.

“I think there is going to be a spike in gas prices,” said Severin Borenstein, an economist and faculty director of the Energy Institute at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.

The timing of the refinery fire, however, could somewhat mitigate the impact on gasoline prices — depending on how long the refinery remains out of commission.

“This is coming at a time of relatively low demand for gasoline in California,” Borenstein said.

Yet this hopeful factor must play out in an economic landscape with some forbidding characteristics For example, the stricken East Bay refinery wields a significant role in California’s fuel market.

“The Martinez refinery accounts for about 10% of the refining capacity in California,” Borenstein said.

What’s more, California imposes strict requirements and regulations on the blends of gasoline that can be sold statewide.

“The restrictions and environmental regulations on California gasoline are much higher and stricter than what is required at the federal level,” said Doug Johnson, a spokesperson for the American Automobile Association. “California has to have cleaner fuel than what is required in other states.”

The rules have effectively transformed California into a gasoline island, according to Borenstein.

“There are more environmental regulations and taxes on California gasoline than elsewhere in the country,” Johnson said.

The restrictions also mean it could take longer than usual to replace any lost production while the refinery stays out of service.

“We can’t bring replacement fuel into California that quickly,” Borenstein said. “It takes about a month.”

Amid the murky prospects for fuel prices, the primary certainty was that the refinery was still not in full operation on Monday.

“Refinery operating units have been shut down except required utility systems,” Martinez Refining Co. stated in a post on its website.

Martinez Refinery officials also warned residents that they may continue to see indications of unusual activity at the plant.

“You may continue to see minimal smoke until further notice,” the company stated. “Flaring continues with the potential for intermittent flaring throughout the week.”

Originally Published: February 3, 2025 at 3:51 PM PST

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