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 CA 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 Richmond, 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 CA trademark filing, CA trademark responses, and CA 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 Richmond, British Columbia, can significantly increase your chances of a successful registration. The CA 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 CA 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 CA Once performed, we'll send you a legal opinion letter that details our findings.
3. Sausser Summers, PC, files your CA 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 CA 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 Richmond, 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 CA can last indefinitely, but did you know that clients in Richmond, 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 Richmond, 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.
A Chinese bakery in Richmond has been ordered to shut down after health inspectors found rodent infestation inside the premises.And previous reviews show multiple customers discovering moldy food…Mega Bakery in Continental Shopping Plaza received a closure order from Vancouver Coastal Health.A Noms Mag community member (Alan) spotted the closure notice posted on the bakery’s front door on March 11.We swung by the same day and confirmed the notice was there.Peeking through the window, baked good...
A Chinese bakery in Richmond has been ordered to shut down after health inspectors found rodent infestation inside the premises.
And previous reviews show multiple customers discovering moldy food…
Mega Bakery in Continental Shopping Plaza received a closure order from Vancouver Coastal Health.
A Noms Mag community member (Alan) spotted the closure notice posted on the bakery’s front door on March 11.
We swung by the same day and confirmed the notice was there.
Peeking through the window, baked goods and items were still sitting on the display tables, six days after the order was issued.
We returned on March 14 and did not see any movement inside.
The closure order cites rodent infestation in violation of BC Food Premises Regulation Section 26(a), (b), and (c).
The order lists seven corrective actions the bakery must complete before it can reopen.
The bakery must close to the public immediately until authorized to reopen.
All mouse droppings must be removed, and all contaminated areas and surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized.
Any open food that has been damaged or contaminated by rodents or their droppings must be discarded.
The order also requires the bakery to identify and seal all openings in walls and ceilings that may lead to pest entry and harborage.
The space must be deep cleaned and decluttered, and professional pest control services must be engaged to address the infestation.
The bakery may also be required to attend a compliance meeting at the Richmond Health Protection office.
The closure order may not come as a complete surprise to some former customers.
Multiple Google reviews over the past few years include photos and complaints about finding mold on purchased items.
One reviewer from September 2025 wrote that they bought shrimp and radish pancakes and found mold on the back of one.
“With this kind of quality control, how can the boss not sell such a large piece without mold?” the review reads.
Another reviewer described finding moldy green bean paste and sour mochi.
A separate review from three months ago described the store as dark with hardly any items available.
Mega Bakery, also known by its Chinese name 美之香餅家, is a traditional Chinese bakery that has operated at the plaza for more than a decade.
It is not yet clear when or if Mega Bakery will reopen.
The timeline depends on how quickly the corrective actions are completed and whether the bakery can pass a follow-up inspection.
This comes after another Richmond food spot, Mr. Beigai BBQ was also shut down by VGH for a pest infestation too.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Address: 1162-3779 Sexsmith Rd, Richmond, BC
A set of agreements signed last month between the federal government and the Musqueam Indian Band has sparked debate, confusion and political reaction across British Columbia.Some social media posts have claimed the federal government “gave away” Vancouver to xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), while critics have raised concerns about private property rights and overlapping Indigenous territories.The Feb. 20 agreements — which include a rights recognition agreement along with fisheries and marine stewardship ...
A set of agreements signed last month between the federal government and the Musqueam Indian Band has sparked debate, confusion and political reaction across British Columbia.
Some social media posts have claimed the federal government “gave away” Vancouver to xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), while critics have raised concerns about private property rights and overlapping Indigenous territories.
The Feb. 20 agreements — which include a rights recognition agreement along with fisheries and marine stewardship agreements — outline a framework for how Musqueam rights may be recognized and implemented in the future.
Here is what is in the agreements and what they could mean.
The main document, known as the šxʷq̓ʷal̕təl̕tən - A Rights Recognition Agreement, formally acknowledges that Musqueam has unextinguished rights and title to its territory, and both the federal government and Musqueam are seeking a "new nation-to-nation, government-to-government relationship."
The agreement says its purpose is to recognize those rights, support reconciliation and establish a process for future negotiations between Canada and Musqueam.
Two additional agreements signed the same day deal with marine stewardship and fisheries management, and create a formal partnership between Musqueam and Canada to manage fisheries together.
In a , Musqueam said the agreements support the nation's "long-established role as stewards of the Fraser River."
Federal officials and Musqueam leaders say the agreements do not affect private property rights.
Musqueam Chief yəχʷyaχʷələq Wayne Sparrow has previously said the nation is not seeking to take private land.
“Our approach to traditional unceded territory is one of partnership and relationship with our neighbours, not trying to take away our neighbours’ private property,” the nation said in a statement earlier this month.
The agreement says it does not constitute a treaty or land claims agreement and does not define or establish Aboriginal title.
Instead, it creates a framework for future discussions and negotiations between the federal government and Musqueam.
According to Dwight Newman, a law professor at the University of Saskatchewan, the agreement doesn't involve the transfer of private property.
WATCH | Why this B.C. land claim is such a big deal:
"Nothing within the agreement at this stage specifically transfers any private property," Newman told The Canadian Press. However, "there isn't a clause within the agreement that excludes private property from being part of that recognized title."
That could stop the federal government from arguing against a Musqueam claim to private property if it ended up in the courts, but Newman says the agreement is designed to avoid litigation by setting out a process for negotiations instead.
The debate is unfolding following a landmark court ruling last August involving Cowichan (Quw'utsun) Nation.
That ruling says Crown and city titles within an area in Richmond, B.C., are defective and invalid, and the Crown's granting of private titles on the land "unjustifiably" infringed on Cowichan title.
It states that Cowichan has Aboriginal title to between 300 and 325 hectares of land — including around 150 pieces of private property along the Fraser River.
WATCH | What the Cowichan decision means:
Some residents continue to ask what’s in store for their community following a B.C. Supreme Court ruling that the Cowichan Tribes hold Aboriginal title over between 300 and 324 hectares land in Richmond. Stephen Quinn spoke with Khelsilem, a former elected councillor of the Squamish Nation, to shed light on what the court decision means and doesn't mean. CORRECTION: At the 0:10 mark of this video, there is an incorrect statement that the B.C. Supreme Court decision covers 7.5 square kilometres of land in Richmond, B.C. In fact, the ruling applies to a portion of that area, meaning Quw’utsun Nation has Aboriginal title to between 300 and 324 hectares (or 750 and 800 acres) of land.
The ruling has raised questions and concerns about how private property can co-exist with fee simple ownership — the legal name for private property title.
"We recognize how impactful the Cowichan judgement has been on everyone — including us," Musqueam said in its statement, noting it is one of the groups appealing the ruling.
The nation distinguished its own agreements with the federal government from last summer's Cowichan decision, saying its agreements have “absolutely no impacts to fee simple lands/private property."
The agreements define Musqueam territory as spanning from Harvey Creek in the Howe Sound, east to Indian Arm, and down to the Burrard Inlet and English Bay, all the way south to the Fraser River — encompassing much of Metro Vancouver.
The territory spans roughly 533,000 hectares and overlaps with neighbouring nations’ territories, including the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), sc̓əwaθən (Tsawwassen) and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) nations.
Some neighbouring First Nations say they were not consulted before the agreements were announced, raising concerns about how the framework could affect overlapping territorial claims.
The Squamish Nation says it has requested a meeting with federal officials and has begun a legal review of the agreements.
In a statement, the nation said publicly circulated materials, including maps, appear to show areas within Squamish traditional territory.
“Let us be clear: The Squamish Nation government will defend and uphold our inherent Aboriginal rights and title,” the nation said.
The Tsawwassen First Nation also said it is reviewing the agreements after noting that some publicly available maps appear to overlap with parts of its treaty lands at Brunswick Point.
The Musqueam agreement itself says it does not recognize rights or title for any Indigenous people other than Musqueam and does not affect the rights of other nations.
Wendy John, the chief negotiator for the Musqueam Indian Band for those agreements, said some of the reaction has been driven by misinformation about what the agreements actually do.
“I think the misinformation that's been set out by media claiming that the government has given us everything within that map has caused angst,” she said.
Federal officials say the Crown would still have a duty to consult neighbouring First Nations if required.