Trademark Archives | Ritter Spencer

How to Protect Your Intellectual Property

Although copyrights protect a business’s creative works and assets, the possibility of infringement remains a pressing issue for companies. Indeed, businesses should seek registration of their intellectual property for legal protections; however, many owners can take additional steps to secure their original ideas or creations.

October 6, 2021 Intellectual Property

3 Common Legal Issues Faced by Small Businesses

Even the most educated entrepreneurs may make some unintentional mistakes as they take the first steps to start their business. While some of these errors may be easily remedied, others have more serious legal ramifications. With guidance from a corporate attorney, business owners can protect themselves from potentially damaging litigation. Read below to learn about some of the most common legal issues that small businesses face and how the Dallas law firm of Ritter Spencer PLLC can help.

May 25, 2021 Business Law, Small Business

Trademark Protection for Cannabis Businesses

As the medical marijuana, hemp, and CBD industries are still relatively new, many cannabis business owners are unsure whether they qualify for trademark protection or not. The 2018 Farm Bill clarified the legal distinction of hemp from marijuana and the status of popular cannabinoids and derivatives, such as CBD. Accordingly, positive changes regarding hemp-based trademarks have taken place, which the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) outlined in an Examination Guide in May of 2019. Below, we outline the basics of trademarking with a focus on cannabis and hemp products at the federal and state level.

February 24, 2021 CBD Trademark, Trademark, Trademark Law

5 Things to Know About Trademark Infringement

Trademarks are common as companies make efforts to stand out in competitive industries. However, in this pursuit of differentiation, some businesses may take inspiration from a competitor’s creative assets. These actions risk infringing on the trademark of the business that registered the concept with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Trademark infringement cases can be complicated, which is why companies should work with an experienced Texas trademark lawyer from Ritter Spencer PLLC. Read below to learn some of the basics of trademark infringement and what legal options are available to businesses with a registered trademark.

February 21, 2021 Trademark, Trademark Law

CBD Trademarks: Attorney Chelsie Spencer Published

Chelsie Spencer’s article regarding the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s treatment of cannabidiol (“CBD”) and hemp-derivative goods trademark applications has been published today in The Tipsheet. To view a copy of the article on CBD trademarks, continue reading below or click here: Cannabidiol: The Disjointed Stance at the USPTO Continues.

March 18, 2019 Business Law, CBD, Hemp, Trademark

Trademark Lawyer Chelsie Spencer Published in Tipsheet: Cannabidiol: The Disjointed Stance on the Cannabinoid at the USPTO

Trademark Lawyer Chelsie Spencer was published in the State Bar of Texas Intellectual Property Section’s TipSheet Vol. 13 No. 2, discussing the USPTO’s treatment of trademark applications for goods containing cannabidiol. To view the article, continue reading below or click here.

September 18, 2018 Trademark

Trademark Attorney Chelsie Spencer Provides Top Digital Branding Strategy Tip

Ritter Spencer attorney Chelsie Spencer is featured this morning on Fit Small Business. In the article, Top 28 Digital Branding Strategies, Mrs. Spencer advises content creators to ensure that the digital content they place online is legally protected.

Distinguishing your brand in the digital age can be a challenge, particularly due to the easy and instant access of information online and heightened market congestion. Digital theft of intellectual property is quite prevalent in the online age; however, content creators and brand owners can take steps to legally protect their works.

August 23, 2018 Trademark

Recently, the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) issued an internal directive which will likely assist pending and future CBD trademark registrations with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. What is CBD you ask? CBD is an acronym for cannabidiol, a cannabis compound derived from the marijuana plant. Importantly, CBD is a non-psychoactive compound, meaning that it lacks THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) – the cannabinoid compound associated with marijuana use. CBD has been added to a variety of goods, from oils, to vapor, to honey, to candies, and beyond.

June 5, 2018 CBD, CBD Trademark, Hemp, Trademark

Trademarks 101: Selecting a Trademark Application Filing Basis

When you file an application for federal trademark registration, the TEAS filing portal (Trademark Electronic Application System) will ask you to select a filing basis for your trademark application. There are two available bases for selection: 1(a) or 1(b). Both are derived from the Lanham Act, the statute governing trademarks. When you prepare to file your online trademark application, it can often be confusing as to which basis you should file with.

May 15, 2018 Trademark

When registering a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), any of the available application forms for filing will require that you specify whether you are applying for the mark in a standard character format, also referred to as a word mark, or in a special form, referred to as a stylized mark or design mark. Assuming that your business name is eligible for trademark registration, you may wonder whether you should trademark the business name or the business’s logo first. You have the option to register (a) the business name only (b) the logo or other design only or (c) both.

March 26, 2018 Business Law, Trademark

How to Protect Your Intellectual Property

3 Common Legal Issues Faced by Small Businesses

Trademark Protection for Cannabis Businesses

5 Things to Know About Trademark Infringement

CBD Trademarks: Attorney Chelsie Spencer Published

Trademark Lawyer Chelsie Spencer Published in Tipsheet: Cannabidiol: The Disjointed Stance on the Cannabinoid at the USPTO

Trademark Attorney Chelsie Spencer Provides Top Digital Branding Strategy Tip

Canna-Brand It? CBD Trademark Registration

Trademarks 101: Selecting a Trademark Application Filing Basis

Trademark Registration 101: Should I Register the Trademark for My Business Name or Logo?

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