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 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 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 Richmond, 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 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 U.S. 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.
Did you know Richmond, British Columbia is home to the largest Chinese community outside of China? That means this cool suburb of Vancouver is home to some of the best Chinese food in North America — making it a pretty good spot for a festival solely focused on dumplings to take place.And that’s exactly what’s happening on March 2nd from 6 to 10pm as the Asian Arts & Culture Society hosts the ...
Did you know Richmond, British Columbia is home to the largest Chinese community outside of China? That means this cool suburb of Vancouver is home to some of the best Chinese food in North America — making it a pretty good spot for a festival solely focused on dumplings to take place.
And that’s exactly what’s happening on March 2nd from 6 to 10pm as the Asian Arts & Culture Society hosts the RBC Dumpling Tasting Soirée in Richmond in partnership with Tourism Richmond.
It’s the first time this particular festival makes its way to Richmond — which is fitting since 74% of Richmond’s population is ethnically Chinese. After seeing great success with the first two BC Dumpling Festivals in Coquitlam in 2022 and 2023, the event is now headed to Richmond to showcase an enhanced and unique sampling of dumplings from across a variety of cultures.
This Soiree is not just a celebration of food, but a celebration of community and a platform where people from diverse backgrounds come together to share their love for these delectable pockets of joy.
"Following the incredible success of the BC Dumpling Festival at Town Centre Park in Coquitlam for the past few summers, Tourism Richmond is very excited to partner with the Asian Arts & Culture Society to bring this unique and delicious night out to Richmond for the first time this March,” says Nancy Small, CEO of Tourism Richmond.
Whether you're a seasoned dumpling connoisseur or trying new flavors for the first time, this event aims to offer something for everyone. “Behind every dish lies a story of tradition, innovation, and the universal language of food that brings us all together. What better place to do that than in Richmond, which is a vibrant hub of authentic Asian culinary and cultural experiences,” says Small.
The evening will include an assortment of dumpling food vendors, alcohol pairings, live entertainment, and various auctions with partial proceeds going to the Richmond Hospital Foundation.
Dumplings from locally loved spots like Banh Mi Tres Bos, Mr. Siopao, Momo Joy, Teppan-Yaro, That Momo Spot, and more will be featured. Think samplings that include Filipino steamed buns, dumplings with XO sauce, Himalayan-style dumplings, plant-based dumplings, Japanese pork gyoza, and even Korean dumplings.
Additionally, each vendor will be competing in a dumpling tasting competition where judges and guests will vote for best taste, best presentation, most unique, judges’ choice and best overall dumpling.
Tickets for the Richmond British Columbia Dumpling Soiree can be purchased on EventBrite.
Can’t make it to the festival? Not a problem! You can still get your dumpling fix anytime in Richmond, BC by crawling your way through its Dumpling Trail. A curated list of 12 spots that serve some of the best dumplings on the west side of the Pacific. No matter what kind of dumpling does it for you, from steamed to boiled to fried, these babies are filled with so many delicious fillings. With more than 400 Asian restaurants in the city, this list helps narrow things down — at least if you’re craving dumplings.
The bungled sale of a $2.89 million Richmond, B.C., home under a Chinese-language contract was the subject of a recent B.C. Supreme Court decision, with the court ruling the one-page handwritten document outlining the deal is legally binding.Justice Steven Wilson's Monday ruling brings an apparent end to a nearly seven-year legal tango between two acquaintances who first met in dance class — and then several more times in a co...
The bungled sale of a $2.89 million Richmond, B.C., home under a Chinese-language contract was the subject of a recent B.C. Supreme Court decision, with the court ruling the one-page handwritten document outlining the deal is legally binding.
Justice Steven Wilson's Monday ruling brings an apparent end to a nearly seven-year legal tango between two acquaintances who first met in dance class — and then several more times in a courtroom.
Wilson's decision found plaintiff and would-be seller Hong Yang and her husband were entitled to damages after buyer Xue Li failed to pay an $800,000 deposit instalment agreed upon in what the parties called a "Chinese contract."
While another justice refused to decide the case on a summary basis in 2022, Monday's ruling finds that despite different translations, customs and interpretations, Chinese-language contracts are enforceable in British Columbia — in this case, to the tune of nearly half a million dollars.
"I find that the Chinese contract was a valid and binding contract, and that the plaintiffs were ready, willing and able to complete at the closing date," Wilson wrote.
"The plaintiffs were entitled to accept the defendant's breach, which they did, and are entitled to damages."
The ill-fated deal began in 2017, when Yang asked Li for help finding a Realtor to sell the large detached home at 3311 Blundell Rd., and Li said she herself was interested in buying it, according to court documents.
The two parties signed what Wilson calls a "Chinese contract" confirming the terms of the sale on May 4, 2017, and Li and her family moved into the home shortly after.
The one-page document, written entirely in Chinese characters, listed the purchase price at $2.89 million, with a $100,000 deposit upon purchase, $100,000 due on July 10, and $800,000 due by Dec. 30, according to a translation accepted by the court.
The remaining $1.89 million was to be paid after another property Li owned on West 20th Avenue in Vancouver had sold, the ruling says.
Li made both of the first two deposits before her Vancouver property sold in November, but the third $800,000 instalment never came to Yang or her husband, the ruling says.
For five months, until April 2018, Li claimed she had been trying and failing to get approved for a mortgage to cover the difference — even as she obtained mortgages for, and purchased, two other properties in the same period.
"Ms. Li did not provide evidence of any mortgage applications regarding the Blundell [Road] property, and therefore no evidence that she was unsuccessful in obtaining a mortgage," wrote Wilson.
Li and her family moved out of the home on April 25, 13 days after she had made a $2.7 million offer on another property for which she had obtained a mortgage, according to the ruling.
In response to Yang's lawsuit for damages, Li claimed the Chinese contract was not binding or enforceable because it was uncertain, and demanded the $200,000 she had paid be returned.
Li argued that, while unwritten in the Chinese contract, the agreement hinged on her receiving financing for the home in the form of a mortgage.
However Wilson wrote that Li was well aware of the contract's nature, but evidence suggested she did not take the steps necessary to hold up her end of the deal. He also said the uncertainties she argued, including the closing date and interest costs, did not void the contract.
"While I accept that Ms. Li does not read or write English and that her ability to understand spoken English may be limited, I do not accept that she is as unsophisticated or naïve as she portrays," he said.
Yang and her husband eventually sold the Blundell Road home to another buyer in 2018 for approximately $2.4 million, about $400,000 less than what the contract said Li would pay.
After hearing testimony from both plaintiffs and the defendant, Wilson awarded Yang and her husband the difference between the two purchase prices — minus the $200,000 Li had already paid — plus interest, legal costs and around $3,000 in property fees.
We enjoy a New Year's feast--several of them, in fact--in Richmond, British Columbia, the most Asian city in North America. Photos by Garrett Martin Travel Lists Canada 10 miles south of Vancouver you’ll find one of the greatest concentr...
Photos by Garrett Martin Travel Lists Canada
10 miles south of Vancouver you’ll find one of the greatest concentrations of excellent Asian restaurants in North America. Richmond, British Columbia, is part of the Vancouver metropolitan area, but it feels like you’re on the other side of the planet. About 75% of Richmond’s population has Asian roots, and less than a third of its citizens call English their first language. Don’t expect the quaint, touristy Chinatowns found in larger Canadian or American cities, though; Richmond is a modern city, with strip malls and office complexes full of businesses owned by and catering to the Asian community. Its vibrant, varied Asian culinary scene is only a SkyTrain ride away from Vancouver, making it a must-stop for anybody visiting Canada’s third-largest metro area.
We recently ate our way through Richmond during the Lunar New Year weekend, feasting at dumpling houses, tea rooms, and barbecues, and sampling the city’s unique culinary culture. Here’s the best of what we experienced, in order of when we ate there.
Our first stop was lunch at HK BBQ Master, and I can’t imagine a better kickoff to our tour. When Anson Leung made the journey from Hong Kong to British Columbia with his parents in the early ‘90s, he was still waiting to be born. A few years later his dad started a barbecue restaurant in a small space inside the covered parking lot of a big box superstore, where he specialized in cooking meat in the style of his native Hong Kong; it became one of the best and most popular restaurants in town. Leung took over for his father in the mid ‘10s, and today goes through between 150 and 200 ducks and hundreds of pounds of pork and chicken a day. HK BBQ Master serves up succulent cuts of pork and chicken, lightly spiced and sauced, and roasted or barbecued, with sides of rice and broccoli florets. The small dining room can hold a dozen or so parties, but it truly thrives as a takeout spot, at least based on the line that stretched from the pickup window out of the parking deck and snaked around the next block. The name isn’t overselling the place; Leung truly is a master of Hong Kong barbecue.
Two of our meals came as part of Alexandra Gill’s Dine Like a Critic tour. Gill, a former food critic for the national Canadian newspaper the Globe and Mail, has been covering Vancouver’s food scene for two decades, and her tour takes guests to both the city’s best-known restaurants and some of its hidden gems. In Richmond she first welcomed us to Bamboo Grove, which opened in 1963, making it the oldest Chinese restaurant in town. Their recent Lunar New Year dinner was a multi-course feast full of seafood, lamb and beef, with at least two courses ranking among the very best food I ate in Richmond. First up was a heavenly pork stomach and white pepper soup that didn’t just taste delicious but also left a warm, hazy, deeply comforting feeling inside me. I could’ve had two or three bowls of that soup. Later on we had steaming lamb chop lollipops that effortlessly came off the bone; it was Super Bowl weekend, so football was on my mind, and all I could think about was how these would absolutely kill as game day snacks. Forget the chicken wings and get yourself some of these lamb chop lollipops, if you’re anywhere near Richmond. Other top-notch offerings included the Szechuan beef, which slightly numbed the tongue; the Alaskan king crab; and the fried abalone in oyster shell. Bamboo Grove also brought me my first encounter with geoduck, which is a large clam and not a Pokémon; it’s actually pronounced “gooey duck,” and it’s traditionally eaten at the Lunar New Year to ensure good luck and prosperity in the coming year. Just as we eat black-eyed peas and collard greens on New Year’s Day in the South, Asian communities eat geoduck on the Lunar New Year. Bamboo Grove served it with egg, and although I can’t claim to be a fan of its taste or texture, I can at least say that I’ve tried it. Bamboo Grove’s history is almost as interesting as its cuisine; its menu and focus has changed several times over the decades, initially targeting Western tastes with something similar to American Chinese food, and then growing more authentic throughout the years as Richmond’s demographics changed. That’s the kind of information Gill shares with her guests, making Dine Like a Critic not just delicious but educational, too.
Our second stop on Gill’s tour was The Fish Man, a seafood-forward Szechuan spot that was a little bit younger and hipper (but no less tasty) than Bamboo Grove. The Fish Man’s Lunar New Year menu started with more geoduck, but prepared in a different way than Bamboo Grove; tender slices of lightly seasoned geoduck were complemented with crushed nuts, which gave it a satisfying crunch. You can never have too much good luck. The Fish Man also introduced us to another Lunar New Year staple, the Four Joys Meatball—a pork ball that pays tribute to togetherness and community. We were fortunate to meet many of the poor creatures ready to have their lives voided for our sustenance at The Fish Man, including a typically large king crab who was not particularly excited about shuffling off this mortal coil. Too bad for him: he was quite tasty served up two different ways, steamed with garlic and then breaded and fried. Thanks for your sacrifice, my friend. Later on we enjoyed a hearty sour cabbage fish hotpot and finished it all up with another traditional Lunar New Year dish, tang yuan—sticky rice balls with a black sesame filling that gushed out when bitten into. Whereas Bamboo Grove was refined and classy, The Fish Man was bright and raucous, and the two contrasted each other perfectly.
Some might take it easy the day after overindulging with two multi-course dinners. Not us, though; we dove right back into it the next afternoon with lunch at Dinesty Dumpling House, where we dined upon a variety of soup dumplings, pot stickers, and rolls, and even some dishes that weren’t wrapped inside flour. The highlight was the steamed black truffle and pork soup dumpling; this bite-sized morsel was warm, hearty and flavorful, with a burst of broth that flooded the mouth. The pan fried pork buns were a spicier treat, whereas the pan fried Chinese green onion pancake reminded me of Siu To’s irresistible snacks from the neighboring province of Alberta. Among Dinesty’s sizable and helpful staff are two serving robots who might bring you your food, one of whom is apparently a robot cat; that has no impact upon the food or how good Dinesty is, but I felt it needed to be noted. Dinesty’s wonderful dumplings should be a mandatory part of any trip to Richmond.
Our last meal in Richmond was the fanciest. Baan Lao, an upscale Thai restaurant in the historical fishing village of Steveston, offers a tasting menu with wine or cocktail pairings that combines inviting dishes with immaculate presentation. A trio of amuse-bouches featured a scoop of watermelon dusted with dried fish flakes, a water buffalo meatball resting upon a spoon-shaped slice of pineapple, and a carrot crown with roasted cashews and coconut flakes. An organic Thai chicken dumpling looked like a roosting chicken; the green dumpling bore an orange beak and small eyes as it sat above a latticework of dried straw inside a bowl. Courses were often just a bite or two, which was the exact right amount of food after our gluttony from the day before. Perhaps the most striking part of the menu was a phat thai that arrived inside a delicate net made up of fried egg. When cut into with a fork the net promptly burst open, mixing the fried egg with the rice and black tiger prawns within. Baan Lao’s intricate presentation is a crucial part of the meal, turning these mouthwatering delicacies into individual pieces of art. And hey, the wine’s great, too.
Senior editor Garrett Martin writes about videogames, comedy, travel, theme parks, wrestling, and anything else that gets in his way. He’s also on Twitter @grmartin.