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What happens if I don't renew my trademark?

Written by Jan Buza

Co-founder of Trama

If a trademark is not renewed before the expiry date, it enters a grace period in most jurisdictions; typically six months after expiry; during which renewal can still be filed with an additional surcharge. After the grace period closes, the trademark lapses and legal protection is lost.

Once lapsed, the mark can no longer be enforced against infringers, and a third party can file a new application for the same mark. If you want to re-establish protection, a new trademark application must be filed and the full registration process completed from scratch, with no guarantee of success if similar marks have been registered in the interim.

Trama handles trademark renewals; don't let your trademark lapse.

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