Revision Legal’s attorneys are experts in trademark registration, trademark protection, and trademark infringement litigation. Our expert trademark lawyers have represented clients in trademark infringement disputes in federal courts around the country and have represented Lansing businesses and individuals like you on numerous occasions.
Your brand is one of your most valuable business assets. A trademark — whether it is your business name, your logo, your product name, or your slogan — identifies you in the marketplace and signals quality to your customers. Protecting that identity through federal trademark registration is the most effective way to prevent competitors, counterfeiters, and bad-faith actors from trading on what you have built.
Under the Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. § 1051 et seq.), federal registration with the USPTO provides: nationwide constructive notice of your trademark claim; a presumption of ownership and the exclusive right to use the mark throughout the United States; the right to sue in federal court; the right to use the registered symbol; and the ability to record your registration with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to block imported counterfeits. For Lansing businesses competing in statewide, national, or international markets, these protections are essential.
If a third party is using a confusingly similar mark in connection with similar goods or services, you have federal and common-law remedies available. For registered marks, 15 U.S.C. § 1114 provides a cause of action for trademark infringement. For unregistered marks and trade dress, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a) provides a parallel remedy. Available relief includes injunctive relief, actual damages, disgorgement of profits, and — in cases of willful counterfeiting — statutory damages up to $2,000,000 per mark under 15 U.S.C. § 1117(c).
If you have received a trademark cease-and-desist letter, do not ignore it and do not respond without legal counsel. Cease-and-desist letters often contain inflated legal claims, and an improper response can worsen your position. Revision Legal’s attorneys assess the strength of the demand, evaluate your defenses — including priority of use, descriptiveness, and lack of likelihood of confusion — and advise on whether to comply, negotiate, or challenge the claim.
If you seek trademark registration or trademark protection in Lansing, contact one of Revision Legal’s trademark attorneys today at 855-473-8474 or through our online contact form.
Revision Legal is a national internet and intellectual property law firm with deep roots in Michigan. Founded in Traverse City, the firm has grown to serve clients across the United States — from individual entrepreneurs and independent creators to mid-size companies and publicly traded corporations. We focus exclusively on intellectual property, internet law, and technology law, which means our attorneys develop deep expertise in these areas rather than spreading themselves thin across unrelated practice areas.
Our attorneys have litigated trademark, copyright, trade secret, and internet law matters in federal district courts and courts of appeals across the country, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the Sixth Circuit, and the Ninth Circuit. We have handled proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and the U.S. Copyright Office. We have also represented clients in ICANN UDRP proceedings before WIPO and the National Arbitration Forum.
For our Lansing clients, Revision Legal combines the depth and resources of a national intellectual property practice with the responsiveness and accessibility of a local law firm. We understand Lansing’s business environment and the legal issues that Lansing’s businesses face. Whether you are a startup protecting a new brand for the first time or an established company managing a large IP portfolio, Revision Legal’s attorneys have the expertise and the tools to serve you effectively.
How long does trademark registration take? USPTO trademark registration typically takes 12 to 18 months from the filing date for straightforward applications. Applications that receive Office Actions, opposition proceedings, or other complications may take longer. Revision Legal will keep you informed of your application’s status throughout the process.
What is the cost of trademark registration? Government filing fees per class of goods or services range from $250 to $350 per class depending on the application basis and form. Attorney fees vary based on the complexity of the mark and the number of classes. Revision Legal offers flat-fee trademark registration packages that include the government fee, clearance search, application preparation, and one standard Office Action response.
Do I need to register my trademark before I start using it? No — trademark rights arise through use. But registration provides significantly stronger legal protection and should be initiated as early as possible. You can file an intent-to-use application before your first commercial use, which establishes a priority date from your filing date.
What if someone is already using a similar name? Whether a similar existing use creates a legal problem depends on: how similar the marks are; how similar the goods or services are; whether the existing use is registered; and the geographic scope of each use. A trademark clearance opinion from Revision Legal will assess these factors and give you a practical risk assessment.
One of the most common and costly mistakes businesses make is delaying intellectual property protection until after a problem arises. A trademark that is not registered can be lost to a competitor who files first. A copyright that is not registered before infringement occurs cannot support a claim for statutory damages or attorney’s fees. A trade secret that is not protected by adequate confidentiality agreements may be disclosed without remedy.
The cost of early, proactive intellectual property protection is a fraction of the cost of reactive enforcement after rights have been compromised. Trademark registration, copyright registration, and basic contractual protections for trade secrets are modest investments relative to the value of the brand equity, creative works, and proprietary information they protect. Revision Legal makes these protections accessible through flat-fee service packages that give clients the professional representation they need at a predictable, budgetable cost.
Early protection also creates business value beyond pure legal defense. Registered trademarks and copyrights are balance sheet assets that increase the value of a business in sale, merger, and financing transactions. Investors, acquirers, and lenders conduct IP due diligence as a matter of course, and a well-organized, properly documented IP portfolio signals that a business is professionally managed and its core assets are secure.
Do not wait for a cease-and-desist letter or an infringement lawsuit to make IP protection a priority. Take action now, while the cost is manageable and the available protections are still fully intact. Contact Revision Legal today at 855-473-8474 or through our online contact form to discuss your intellectual property needs.
Registering a trademark is one of the smartest investments you can make as a business owner. A trademark protects your brand, gives you exclusive rights to use your mark in commerce, and provides significant legal advantages — including a presumption of ownership and the ability to bring infringement claims in federal court. But many business […]
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