Spataro & Associates

Spataro & Associates

New
Offers online services
New
Offers online services

About

Engaged in the practiced of law, 1978 - 2020, with emphasis on intellectual property matters:

Trademarks, brands, and trade names, including trademark creation, searching, clearance, positioning, and registration strategies; prosecution of state and federal trademark applications, complex Office Actions, maintenance of registrations, licensing, and domestic and international portfolio development, management, including international trademark rights, applications, and registrations, and expansion; monitoring trademark use, misuse, and infringement; enforcement, including the prosecution and defense of United States Patent and Trademark Office, Trademark Trial and Appeal Board cancellation and opposition proceedings, and U.S. District Court trademark infringement and related proceedings; and trademark portfolio assessments, evaluations, and due diligence, and geographic indications.

Trade dress, including product designs and appearances, and prosecution of USPTO applications for registration

Domain names, and social media names, handles, and accounts; acquisitions, management, and dispute resolution

Copyrights — rights to creative works, Digital Millennium Copyright Act compliance, prosecution of complex copyright applications in the U.S. Copyright Office, content clearances, fair use, license agreements, portfolio development, management, and expansion, and enforcement, including the prosecution and defense of copyright infringement and unfair competition claims in U.S. District Courts

Additional intellectual property, including technology transactions — license and technology agreements, metasearch engines, digital and internet related, IP portfolio evaluations, due diligence, and Internet law and practice; trade secrets— identifying, evaluating, and protecting the secrets of innovation, including protection plans, policies, and access guidelines tailored to business strategy, and preparation of non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements; management of intellectual property assets, privacy and publicity rights, commercial appropriation, law of ideas, titles and characters, rights acquisitions, content clearances, licensing, and dispute resolution

AV® PreeminentTM Peer and Judicial Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

I enjoy helping business people establish their trademark and other intellectual property rights and build their IP portfolios. I also like working with businesses to monitize, use, and protect their trademark and other intellectual property rights.


Highlights

4 employees
31 years in business
Serves West Los Angeles , CA
Offers online services

No reviews (yet)

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Frequently asked questions

To speak with a client to get acquainted and to see how I can help them and to determine the most cost-effective initial way to provide legal help and frame legal costs, based on the client's needs and circumstances. Each trademark matter is different.  

I have practiced trademark and other intellectual property law for over 30 years. My current pratice emphasizes trademarks because I have the most passion for trademark work.

Yes; although each case depends on client needs, complexity, and at time nuances in a client's situation. Here are the price points and system I use. 

Does the client need to search and consider clearing a trademark or service mark? If so, USA? International? If International, which countries does the client intend to sell their goods or services?

Will the application to register be an intent-to-use or use based (client is already using the trademark in interstate commerce)?

The attorney fees for an application range from approximately $750 to $1500 depending on the complexity of the application and the nuances that maybe involved. 

The current expenses for filing fees in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office are typically $275 for each class of goods or services that under which a client wants to register.

The attorney fees include some advice on the use of a trademark. All U.S. trademark rights arise from, and are based on use. A certificate of registration provides important additional legal rights but proper trademark use is critical, a point many "trademark mills" do not care about. Extensive use advice when deired by a client is charged at a mutually agreeable hourly rate.

Some applications sail through the USPTO. Other applications may involve a USPTO Examining Attorney make a substantive action on an application.Responses to Substantive Office Actions or Opposition Proceedings will involve additional attorney fees and expenses for any such matter.  A Substantive Office Action is, for example, a USPTO refusal to register your mark based on likelihood of confusion with another mark with priority. The attorney fees and expenses will depend on the Office Action or Notice of Opposition, a response, settlement negotiations, and other factors.  If any such matter arises we will discuss options, and I will provide an estimate of attorney fees and expenses based on the facts, legal issues, and how you want to proceed.   

Responding to a Procedural Office Action is typically free and may involve an attorney fee of $275 or less. 

Responding to any Substantive Office Action or Opposition Proceeding involves additional attorney fees, based on my hourly rate or as may be otherwise agreed.

Any additional substantial legal services and fees will be undertaken in consultation with a client, after a client considers options, costs, benefits, and can make an informed decision about how to proceed.

 

My passion was for trademarks and service marks. I found that I love working with trademarks, client marketing, protecting trademarks, and assisting clients build their trademark portfolios and may a lot of money when they license their tradmarks or sell them. I like help my clients succeed and make lots of money.

A wide range of clients from start ups to billion dollar a year businesses. Most of my client are in the medium sized business range.

Helping a client obtain trademark registrations in a croweded field through creative legal tactics and strategies.  

Be warry of "trademark mills." When I consult with a client with a problem at a trademark mill the matter is usually a mess and the costs to fix the problems, at a later stage, may not be cost effective or practical. 

Always remember trademark rights in the USA are based on, and arise from trademarkuse. How a trademark is used or not used is critical. If you are looking to file an appliction and obtain a registration and are not interested in proper use I am probably not the right attorney to hire.  

Please see my comments above.


Services offered

Mediator
Copyright Attorney
Intellectual Property Lawyer