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 Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.
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 Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, 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 Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.
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 Trois-Rivieres, Quebec 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 Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, 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.
The Trudeau government will announce plans for a high-speed train linking Quebec City and Toronto in the coming weeks, Radio-Canada has learned.Proponents of the project hope the train will take passengers from Montreal to Toronto in three hours. By car, it takes about five-and-a-half hours to travel between the two cities.Sources told Radio-Canada the train will travel 300 kilometres per hour — double the speed of Via Rail's current trains.Ottawa announced plans back in 2021 to build what it called a "high-fr...
The Trudeau government will announce plans for a high-speed train linking Quebec City and Toronto in the coming weeks, Radio-Canada has learned.
Proponents of the project hope the train will take passengers from Montreal to Toronto in three hours. By car, it takes about five-and-a-half hours to travel between the two cities.
Sources told Radio-Canada the train will travel 300 kilometres per hour — double the speed of Via Rail's current trains.
Ottawa announced plans back in 2021 to build what it called a "high-frequency" (HFR) rail corridor with stops in Toronto, Peterborough, Ottawa, Montreal, Trois-Rivières, Laval and Quebec City. Sources told Radio-Canada the federal government has now decided the Toronto-Quebec City link will be high-speed.
The train would use a newly built, separate electrified track and run frequently. In addition to Quebec City, Montreal and Toronto, it would serve Trois-Rivières, Laval, Ottawa and Peterborough.
Sources told Radio-Canada the federal government has chosen a winning bidder out of three competing consortia and is expected to announce the news in the next few weeks.
A spokesperson for Transport Minister Anita Anand wouldn't confirm the news because the contract has not been awarded. Finalizing the contract could take several more months.
"No contract has been awarded to a consortium for the rail project in the Quebec City-Toronto corridor," the spokesperson said. "Our Liberal government has an ambitious, transformative plan for Canada's future."
At an economic conference in Toronto on Oct. 16, Anand said the federal government "is going ahead with one of three bids that we have now received for high-frequency, high-speed rail.
"Rail is going to improve productivity, it's going to improve efficiency, it's going to lower carbon emissions, and it's going to allow for more housing to be built on these rail lines."
The government selected three consortia to bid on a high-frequency rail project between Quebec City and Toronto. A source close to the file said the bidding consortia warned Ottawa that ridership would be lower with a high-frequency train than with a high-speed one, since customers are looking for the shortest possible trip.
In addition, VIA HFR Inc., the Crown corporation created in November 2022 to develop a rail corridor between Quebec City and the rest of Canada, is expected to change its name to refer to more than just high-frequency trains.
According to a government source, the consortia's work demonstrated that the high-speed rail option was "much less expensive than originally anticipated."
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Transport Canada initially estimated that the cost of a high-speed rail link between the two cities could be as high as $80 billion.
The three consortia selected by the government are: Cadence, made up of CDPQ Infra, SNC-Lavalin, Systra Canada and Keolis Canada; Intercity Rail Developers, which includes EllisDon Capital, Kilmer Transportation, First Rail Holdings, Jacobs, Hatch, CIMA+, FirstGroup, RATP Dev Canada and Renfe Operadora; and QConnexiON Rail Partners, made up of Fengate, John Laing, Bechtel, WSP Canada and German Rail.
It's not known which of the consortia won the tender. As the project office owns all the bids, it could use elements from each one in the final project. The project will be jointly developed by the federal government and the private consortium.
It's expected to take four to five years to design the future high-speed line. Funds are to be allocated at the end of that time period, so it's possible a future government could modify or cancel the project.
Pierre Barrieau, a lecturer in transportation planning at the Université de Montréal and consultant with the firm Gris Orange, said a high-speed rail link could help pay for itself by eliminating the need to build new highways and airports.
"We're building a project like this for [the next] 150 years," he said. "Canada deserved better than a high-frequency train."
Barrieau said he also believes a high-frequency — but not high-speed — train would not have brought about "a transformation in mobility" and customer demand would have been too low.
He also said he wouldn't be surprised if the project ends up costing $120 billion.
Paul Langan, founder of the advocacy group called High Speed Rail Canada, said he hopes the pending announcement means Canada is at "a turning point."
"I think it'd be like the U.S.A., where once you finally get it somewhere, another corridor all of a sudden springs up," Langan said. He suggested that a high-speed rail project between Edmonton and Calgary would likely be the next best option.
Countries with economies less developed than Canada's already have high-speed trains. Turkey has the YHT and Poland the PKP, which can reach speeds of 250 km/h. Morocco's Al Boraq peaks at 320 km/h. Indonesia has just inaugurated the Whoosh, which goes up to 350 km/h.
Brazil has a high-speed rail project underway and India is importing the Japanese Shinkansen model.
His legal expertise includes labour and construction law By Angelica Dino 18 Oct 2024Share Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced the appointment of Pierre Soucy as a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the district of Trois-Rivières.Justice Soucy will fill the vacancy left by Justice J. Geoffroy, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective Septembe...
His legal expertise includes labour and construction law
18 Oct 2024
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Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced the appointment of Pierre Soucy as a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the district of Trois-Rivières.
Justice Soucy will fill the vacancy left by Justice J. Geoffroy, who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective September 3.
Soucy, a native of Trois-Rivières, earned his Bachelor of Laws from Université Laval in 1993. The following year, he was admitted to the Barreau du Québec, marking the start of his legal career.
Since 1999, Soucy has been a partner at the law firm Lambert Therrien S.E.N.C. in Trois-Rivières, where he built a strong reputation in civil and commercial litigation. His legal expertise includes labour and construction law. He has represented clients in complex litigation cases, appearing before all levels of the Quebec judicial system.
In addition to his legal practice, Soucy has contributed to legal education. He has taught labour law, ethics, and deontology at the Université du Québec in Trois-Rivières, as well as construction law through the Chemin-du-Roy school board. His contributions to the legal community extend beyond the courtroom, with active participation in various professional organizations. In 2019, he served as Bâtonnier de la Mauricie, a key leadership role in the regional legal community.
Beyond his legal and teaching roles, Soucy has been an active community member. He has been involved in numerous charities and initiatives benefiting the citizens of Trois-Rivières. Soucy has also served on multiple boards of directors and, at the time of his appointment, was a member of the Comité d’enquête à l’éthique et à la déontologie for local school service centres.
Minister Virani expressed confidence in Soucy's ability to serve Quebecers in his new role. "I wish Justice Soucy every success as he takes on his new role. I am confident he will serve Quebecers well as a member of the Superior Court of Quebec," Virani said in a statement.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announces a judicial appointment in the province of QuebecNews releaseOctober 15, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice Canada The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian popula...
October 15, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Department of Justice Canada
The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointment under the judicial application process established in 2016. This process emphasizes transparency, merit, and the diversity of the Canadian population, and will continue to ensure the appointment of jurists who meet the highest standards of excellence and integrity.
Pierre Soucy, Counsel at Lambert Therrien in Trois-Rivières, is appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the district of Trois-Rivières. Justice Soucy replaces Justice J. Geoffroy (Trois-Rivières), who elected to become a supernumerary judge effective September 3, 2024.
“I wish Justice Soucy every success as he takes on his new role. I am confident he will serve Quebecers well as a member of the Superior Court of Quebec.”
—The Hon. Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Justice Pierre Soucy obtained his Bachelor of Laws from Université Laval in 1993 and was admitted to the Barreau du Québec in 1994.
Justice Soucy is originally from Trois-Rivières. Since 1999, he has been a partner in the law firm Lambert Therrien s.e.n.c. in Trois-Rivières. Until his judicial appointment, he specialized in civil and commercial litigation, and was widely recognized for his skills in labour and construction law. He has also been involved in major litigation cases, pleading before all levels of the Quebec judicial system.
Justice Soucy has taught labour law, ethics, and deontology at the Université du Québec in Trois-Rivières, in addition to construction law at the Chemin-du-Roy school board. He was active in his community, participating in various charities and initiatives to benefit his fellow citizens. He was also a member of numerous boards of directors, and he served as Bâtonnier de la Mauricie in 2019. At the time of his appointment, he was also a member of the Comité d’enquête à l’éthique et à la déontologie for the school service centres in his region.
Justice Soucy is a proud Trifluvian. He and his wife, Annie Jacques, are the proud parents of three children: Juliette, Pénélope, and Philippe.
For more information, media may contact:
Chantalle Aubertin Deputy Director, Communications Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General 613-992-6568Chantalle.Aubertin@justice.gc.ca
Media Relations Department of Justice Canada 613-957-4207media@justice.gc.ca