Once a strong brand is built and protected with trademark registration, a key to maintaining such status is proper and timely registration renewal. Trademark registrations can last forever if renewed properly and if the mark is still in use, but they must be renewed at the correct intervals, so docketing the deadlines and filing in the appropriate renewal windows is critical.
What happens if a If a registration is cancelled due to a failure to renew?
- There is no guarantee that it can be re-registered.
- If the trademark is re-registered, the new registration will not have the same history or the same duration as the first, and therefore will not be as strong as the initial registration would have been.
- Applying for—and possibly fighting for—a new registration may be far costlier than a renewal.
- It is possible that you’ll find new conflicts.
- It might be possible to reach a consent agreement or petition to cancel a conflicting registration, but those can be costly and complex.
The moral of the story: keep track of deadlines and renew on time!
For more, see How to Check Trademark Registration Renewal Dates
