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 Abbotsford, British Columbia.
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 Abbotsford, British Columbia, 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 Abbotsford, British Columbia.
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 Abbotsford, British Columbia 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 Abbotsford, British Columbia, 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.
Abbotsford, Langley and Chilliwack residents can discover garden experiences this spring Listen to this article 00:02:01 Warmer weather is coming, the sun is up for longer everyday and the flowers are beginning to bloom, so Gardens BC has put together itinerari...
Abbotsford, Langley and Chilliwack residents can discover garden experiences this spring
Listen to this article 00:02:01
Warmer weather is coming, the sun is up for longer everyday and the flowers are beginning to bloom, so Gardens BC has put together itineraries to spend a great day visiting diverse garden experiences in Abbotsford, Langley and Chilliwack.
Gardens BC is a free online resource allowing people to discover the many hidden garden gems in the Fraser Valley, while also tying in food options, scenic walks and shopping.
“We just wanted to encourage people in different areas to realize the wealth of gardening experiences they have in their own backyard, or in the neighbouring region,” president of Gardens BC Geoff Ball says.
Abbotsford has 14 stops in one day; including well-established locations such as Tanglebank Gardens, Maan Farms and Tuscan Farm Gardens.
Langley also features 14 stops in one day; including resident-favourite Krause Berry Farms and Full Bloom Lavender Farm.
Chilliwack has 12 stops in one day; including Minter Country Garden and Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve.
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The itineraries are merely a suggestion on how to spend a day in each city. Ball encourages participants to go about the locations as they wish.
Gardens BC started putting together itineraries last year, focusing on Vancouver Island and Vancouver. The Fraser Valley itineraries are new additions this spring.
Gardens BC highlights and promotes garden tourism destinations across the province. They also invest in public gardens, offering organizations the opportunity to become a Gardens BC member.
To read more about the itineraries visit gardensbc.com.
READ MORE: Easter egg hunt to kick off Chilliwack agri-tourism site’s 2024 season
Global News Hour at 6 BCAbbotsford waiting for flood mitigation funding from federal governmentMore Videos0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcutsKeyboard ShortcutsEnabledDisabledPlay/PauseSPACEIncrease Volume↑Decrease Volume↓Seek Forward→Seek Backward←Captions On/OffcFullscreen/Exit FullscreenfMute/UnmutemSeek %0-9Next UpGlobal News Hour at 6 BC: April 28...
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After a weekend of rain that caused localized flooding, the City of Abbotsford, B.C., is renewing its call for federal dollars to help it prevent, prepare for, and mitigate a flooding disaster.
Mayor Ross Siemens said Monday that the city has not yet heard back from the federal government on the status of its $1.6-billion infrastructure application under the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund.
“We are doing our level best. We’ve done everything we possibly can at the municipal level, it now is with the province and the federal government,” Siemens told Global News. “Very frustrating.”
2:24
It’s been more than two years since a record-breaking atmospheric river drenched southern B.C., killing five people and tens of thousands of livestock animals and destroying critical infrastructure. It caused the Nooksack River in Washington state to flow across the B.C. border, into the Fraser Valley, breaching the Sumas dike.
Abbotsford, its Sumas Prairie and farmers, were among the hardest-hit by the disaster, which caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage that the B.C. government, and communities, are still working to repair.
Siemens said smaller flooding events — like the weekend’s — now make residents “very anxious.”
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“We lost tens of thousands of animals. This is people’s livelihood. It’s the food source for the province and you just feel so helpless as that water’s rising,” he said.
5:20
Abbotsford’s application for federal mitigation funds outlined additional resilience work for the Barrowtown Pump Station, the construction of a new Sumas River pump station, and the creation of a habitat enhancement and flood storage area to enhance protection of the Sumas River.
Global News has reached out to Infrastructure Canada for comment on this story. Its Disaster Mitigation Adaptation Fund website states that project proposals will be assessed on eligibility and merit, and applicants will be contacted once all proposal assessments are completed.
It does not provide a timeline.
6:22
Premier David Eby was in Ottawa on Monday, where he met with Prime Minister Trudeau and other federal officials. In a brief press conference, he said critical infrastructure was top of mind in his discussions.
“We’re expanding Highway 1, but we’re also doing repair work and have done (repair work) following the atmospheric river event, as well as other critical infrastructure for Abbotsford and for other communities across British Columbia,” Eby said.
“Making sure that our national trade corridor of Highway 1 works and stays in operation even in extreme weather events is a critically important shared priority of the federal government and the provincial government, and we do want to see the federal government show up at the table with the money to make real their commitments around this area.”
Through DriveBC, the Ministry of Transportation said Highway 1 had closed in both directions between Lytton and Spences Bridge due to flooding on Monday. The Lower Fraser Valley, including Abbotsford, remained under a flood watch issued by the B.C. River Forecast Centre.
1:28
In an emailed statement, the B.C. Ministry of Emergency and Climate Readiness said it has provided more than $102 million to support Abbotsford’s recovery from the 2021 floods, and resilience against future disasters.
That includes $62 million for a new well and water treatment system, $3.2 million in upgrades to the Barrowtown pump station, $13.2 million for homeowners, tenants, small businesses, charities, and farms, and more.
It ha also signed a multi-government agreement with the Semá:th, Matsqui and Leq’á:mel First Nations, Abbotsford and the City of Chilliwack to make Sumas Prairie more resilient to flooding.
Canada's Public Sector Integrity Commissioner issued a damning report Tuesday accusing officials with the federal corrections service of waiting years to fix a pipe that was leaching chemically treated water into the soil surrounding an Abbotsford, B.C., prison.After conducting an investigation involving 14 people, Harriet Solloway found Correctional Service Canada (CSC) committed "g...
Canada's Public Sector Integrity Commissioner issued a damning report Tuesday accusing officials with the federal corrections service of waiting years to fix a pipe that was leaching chemically treated water into the soil surrounding an Abbotsford, B.C., prison.
After conducting an investigation involving 14 people, Harriet Solloway found Correctional Service Canada (CSC) committed "gross mismanagement" — ignoring the advice of engineers as millions of litres of water from a central heating system leaked into the ground at Matsqui Institution.
"In reviewing the evidence, it becomes clear that CSC management did not undertake adequate and timely remedial action, demonstrating serious errors impacting safety and potentially harming the environment," Solloway wrote in her conclusions.
She said the actions didn't reflect "responsible stewardship of government funds and assets."
According to the report, the Matsqui prison complex sits on top of three aquifers — one of which flows into a salmon-bearing stream.
In August 2017, an engineer noticed a problem with the underground piping system carrying hot water to the more than 1,000 inmates housed in the medium-security facility.
The report says employees add anti-corrosion chemicals to the boiler water.
A month after the leak was discovered, an engineer recommended excavation of the system to locate the leak.
"The engineer noted that by the end of the month, approximately 1,100,000 litres of chemically treated hot water would have leaked into the ground, and that he had an 'ethical and moral obligation' to inform management," the report says.
Solloway notes that in the four years following the initial discovery of the leak, several employees asked management to act. The engineer continued trying to raise the alarm, "but he was ignored."
The report says cost was cited as one rationale for not taking action, as was the possibility that the central heating system itself was ultimately going to be replaced.
At one point, in defiance of the engineer's advice, CSC tried unsuccessfully in 2018 to locate the leak using a procedure involving high-water pressure and a vacuum.
"Finally, on April 29, 2021, excavation of the entire pipe system was undertaken, nearly four years after an engineer's recommendation," the report says.
"As a result, multiple leaks were eventually found. By that time, according to CSC engineering personnel, millions of litres of chemically treated hot water had seeped into the ground."
Even then, it took nearly a month to fix the problem.
In the meantime, employees had to run two water pumps 24 hours a day in May 2021, adding cold water at one point, which led to the risk of an explosion caused by thermal shock and the filing of a safety complaint by an engineer.
More than 400 inmates were also left without hot water and space heating for two days.
"On May 25, 2021, after excavating and exposing the pipes under the Matsqui Institution, the leak was found and fully repaired," Holloway wrote.
"Several witnesses interviewed by our office stated that this major leak could have been prevented had it been found and repaired in a timely manner."
Solloway's report makes four recommendations, including the need to ensure maintenance plans for aging facilities are kept up to date and to establish an "action plan" to report, receive and address and critical infrastructure failures.
She also recommended an "independent, external environmental impact assessment of the area surrounding the Matsqui Complex, including aquifers, agricultural lands and salmon habitats, to determine possible past, present and future impact of the leak."
The last pages of the report include a response from CSC. Officials say tests have found no contamination and "negligible" risks — a conclusion Holloway said she accepted.
The agency said it also agreed with the call for "effective maintenance plans for all facilities across regions, especially for those with aging infrastructure."
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Jason Proctor is a reporter in British Columbia for CBC News and has covered the B.C. courts and the justice system extensively.
Feb. 20 was a good day for Carmen Dennis.The Tahltan artist, who lives in the community of Dease Lake, in B.C.'s far northwest, had spent two days driving more than 1,600 kilometres to see the rapper Ice Cube perform in Abbotsford, about 64 kilometres southeast of Vancouver.To celebrate the occasion, she had created a medallion bearing the Straight Outta Compton rapper's image, using beading techniques she learned from an elder. She wore it to the show, which sparked conversations with some fellow fans.But as th...
Feb. 20 was a good day for Carmen Dennis.
The Tahltan artist, who lives in the community of Dease Lake, in B.C.'s far northwest, had spent two days driving more than 1,600 kilometres to see the rapper Ice Cube perform in Abbotsford, about 64 kilometres southeast of Vancouver.
To celebrate the occasion, she had created a medallion bearing the Straight Outta Compton rapper's image, using beading techniques she learned from an elder. She wore it to the show, which sparked conversations with some fellow fans.
But as the rapper tore through his hits, Dennis' niece and daughter, who were also at the concert, convinced her to take the medallion off and let them throw it on stage in the hopes of getting his attention.
WATCH | Ice Cube receives and wears Dennis' medallion:
2 months ago
Duration 1:17
Tahltan First Nation beader Carmen Dennis travelled two days from her home in Dease Lake, near the B.C.-Yukon border, to see Ice Cube perform in Abbotsford, B.C. She also beaded a medallion featuring the rapper's face — which she tossed on the stage during the concert, then watched as Ice Cube picked it up, put it on, and wear it through his encore performance.
Before she knew it, the rapper — who also stars in movies including Boyz n the Hood, and the Friday and Are We There Yet? franchises — was wearing it around his neck, keeping it on for the rest of his set and his encore.
"Thank you for whoever made this," Ice Cube said as Dennis filmed him holding her artwork up for the crowd. "I appreciate it so much."
And Dennis' reaction?
"I was shaking so bad," she said in an interview with CBC Daybreak North host Carolina de Ryk. "My heart was pounding."
Ice Cube, who started his career with the rap group and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees N.W.A. before going on to have a massive solo music and film career, has just kicked off a series of Canadian tours, starting with the Abbotsford show Dennis attended.
She said the instant she heard he was coming to Canada, she knew she had to be at one of his shows, even if it meant a multi-day drive.
"He's very inspirational," she said, adding she has followed his career over multiple decades. "He's one of my favourite artists."
In the lead-up to the concert, she said, she was trying to manifest getting her work into the rapper's hands, repeatedly playing his track It Was a Good Day while she beaded.
By a twist of fate, that was the first song he performed after putting the medallion on.
Ice Cube is now headed across the country before coming back to B.C., including a show in Prince George that is somewhat closer to Dennis' home community — an 11-hour drive, rather than 18.
Dennis is hoping to be at that show and even more hopeful the musician will continue to wear her work — but even if he doesn't, she'll always have the memory, and footage, of one of her favourite rappers displaying a part of her culture.
"To have someone as iconic as Ice Cube wearing a piece of my art, that's just, like, a dream come true."
The mild airmass currently parked over western Canada led to more daily temperature records across British Columbia on Tuesday.According to Environment Canada, nearly two dozen areas set new records, with 21 eclipsing old marks and two tying existing records.The warmest community in B.C. on Tuesday was Abbotsford, which reached 18.4 C, shattering its old mark of 13.4 C, set in 1995.Yet as warm as it was in the Fraser Valley on Tuesday, it was even warmer in Maple Creek, Sask., which was the nation’s hot spot at 21....
The mild airmass currently parked over western Canada led to more daily temperature records across British Columbia on Tuesday.
According to Environment Canada, nearly two dozen areas set new records, with 21 eclipsing old marks and two tying existing records.
The warmest community in B.C. on Tuesday was Abbotsford, which reached 18.4 C, shattering its old mark of 13.4 C, set in 1995.
Yet as warm as it was in the Fraser Valley on Tuesday, it was even warmer in Maple Creek, Sask., which was the nation’s hot spot at 21.1 C.
And in Alberta, 25 areas set new daily highs, though none as hot as Abbotsford, with 16 areas in Manitoba also setting daily highs for Jan. 30.
Tuesday was the third day in a row of record-breaking warmth, and more records are expected to fall on Wednesday.
Below are the B.C. areas that set or tied daily high temperatures for Jan. 30, 2024.
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Not only did those communities set daily high records, but many communities also experienced record-setting overnight temperatures.
For example, the warmest overnight temperature in Abbotsford on Jan. 30 had been 8.2 C, which was set in 1992. However, a new record was set on Tuesday when the overnight temperature fell to just 10.8 C.
Records for the warmest minimum temperatures on Jan. 30, 2024, are listed below.