A trademark registration can last forever if properly renewed, and if the mark is still in use. But a trademark registration must be renewed at the correct intervals, and it is critical to docket the deadlines and to properly file for renewal when the time is appropriate.
In addition to knowing the deadline for renewal, there can be numerous challenges in filing a renewal, from proper evidence of use to changes in ownership.
If a USPTO trademark registration is canceled due to a failure to renew, there is no guarantee that it can be re-registered. Even if the trademark is re-registered, the new registration will have additional costs, will not have the same history or the same duration as the earlier one, and will therefore not be as strong as the earlier registration would have been.
Tracking registration renewal dates can be quite tricky, and there are numerous scams related to trademark renewal filings.
The bottom line: if a registration lapses, there may be serious ramifications. Don’t let it happen to you.
