U.S. Trademark/Copyright Registration

White & Associates provides U.S. copyright registration services to foreign individuals, such as film directors, composers, and musicians, enabling them to protect their "original works" in the U.S. Copyright owners have the exclusive right to reproduce and distribute the works; to perform and display the works publicly; and prepare derivative works based on the work. Copyrightable works include 1) literary works; 2) musical works; 3) dramatic works; 4) motion pictures; 5) sound recordings, and several other categories of works. While copyright registration is not a condition of copyright protection, copyright law provides for several advantages if the copyright is registered, including establishing a public record of the copyright claim; making it easier to bring suit and collect damages; and registering with the Customs Service to protect against the import of infringing copies. Copyright protection is valid for the duration of the author's life plus 70 additional years. While the processing of the application may take several months, copyright registration is effective on the date the Copyright Office receives all the required elements of the application. Therefore, the sooner your application is properly prepared and submitted, the sooner you may avail yourself of the full protections of U.S. law.

What services do you provide?

We provide a full–range of copyright-related services, from initial consultations on the copyright registration process; to application preparation, submission, and follow-up; recordation of the registration with the U.S. Customs Service; copyright transfers; and enforcement of your rights.

What information does W&A need to get started?

Please provide to us the title and nature/summary of the work to be protected; the name of the author; and the name of the copyright claimant. It will also be necessary to submit with the application a copy of the work to be protected.

White & Associates, along with its affiliate located near the Patent and Trademark Office, provide U.S. trademark registration services to individuals and corporations who are currently using or intend to use the mark in the United States. A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, or design or any combination which identifies and distinguishes the goods or services of one party from those of others. A service mark is the same as a trademark except that it identifies and distinguishes the source of a service rather than a product. Although the first user of a mark has priority over subsequent users of the mark or a similar mark, registration of the mark makes it easier to sue and enforce your rights versus the infringing party. Unlike copyrights and patents, trademark rights can last indefinitely if the owner continues to use the mark to identify its goods or services. The registration process averages 9–12 months.

What services do you provide?

We provide multi–state and federal searches in order to determine whether your mark or one confusingly similar to it is already being used; prepare the trademark application; negotiate with Trademark Office Examining Attorneys regarding descriptions of goods and services; and enforce the trademarks against companies infringing on – or attempting to infringe on – your registration.

What information does W&A need to get started?

Please provide to us a description of the mark that you seek to register; a description of the goods and/or services associated with the mark; the name of the owner of the mark; and prior uses of the mark in the United States (when, in what form (advertising materials, labels, tags on goods), where).