Don’t lose your trademarks!

Did you know that you need to renew your trademark registrations with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in order to keep them active?

Well, it’s true; and unfortunately, not all trademark owners know this. Instead, many believe that getting a trademark registration is the end of the process and that there is nothing further to do, but registration is only one step in getting and keeping your valuable trademark registration rights.

Your trademark registration date determines when your registration needs to be renewed. For reference, a registration must be renewed between the 5th and 6th years after registration, between the 9th and 10th years after registration, and every 10 years thereafter. There is typically a grace period during which you can still renew the registration, but at an additional fee.

Why does renewing your trademark registration matter? Because once you lose your registration, it’s gone; and someone else can swoop in and take it. Then, in order to try and get it back, you’ll have to spend money and hire an attorney to find out what your options are. Remember, there is no guarantee to prevail in any legal action so once a registration has expired, it may be gone forever. My point is that you can prevent this situation by being proactive and making sure your registrations are being renewed on a timely basis.