This year we are truly thankful for our incredible staff who have worked diligently to serve our clients’ needs in this extraordinarily difficult year. We are also grateful for the vaccines that are saving lives throughout the world. While we are still facing many difficulties we are hopeful that the future will be brighter. The celebration of Thanksgiving by this [...]
Businesses often want to have a slogan that describes what they’re selling, but in order to be protectable as a trademark, the slogan has to be “distinctive.” That is, it must be used to identify the source of the product or service. If it does not, the slogan “fails to function” as a mark. The Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure [...]
If you or your business hire someone to create work for you, for example, to write a blog post, take some photos, compose a jingle, or design a logo, who owns the copyright in that work? The answer depends upon several factors. Generally, the person who creates a work is considered to be the author of that work under the [...]
New EEOC Poster Earlier this month, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) released an updated poster, “Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal,” that many employers are required to prominently display in the workplace. To see if your business (or your employer) is required to display this poster, visit the EEOC’s website. You can also obtain free versions of the [...]
It is believed that either Benjamin Franklin or Mark Twain said “Nothing is certain except for death and taxes.” Not having appropriate estate planning documents to address both of these certainties is a mistake. The fact is that we don't know when we're going to die. Nor do we know when we might become incapacitated due to an accident or [...]
You’re angry. Your employer fired you, or your neighbor plays loud music every day, or you slipped walking into the grocery store. Should you sue? Maybe not. Before filing a lawsuit, there are a number of things you should think carefully about, including these risks. 1. No matter how good your case appears to be, you might lose. 2. Even [...]
Last month, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a report, Bringing Dark Patterns to Light, describing some of the increasingly sophisticated design practices known as “dark patterns” that some companies use on the internet to trick consumers. The term “dark patterns” was coined in 2010 and refers to design practices that manipulate users into making harmful choices that they otherwise [...]
If you’re wondering what will happen to your small business after your death, now is a good time to begin the process of “succession planning.” Surveys show that while most small-business owners plan to sell their businesses to fund their retirement, few have written succession plans. Further, many of these businesses are operated in such a way that it will [...]
Many small businesses start out as sole proprietorships or partnerships, usually because they’re the simplest to get up and running. For most businesses, though, the small amount of extra time and expense involved in setting up a corporation or limited liability company (LLC) will be well worth it. The most important benefit of doing business as a corporation or LLC [...]
Some of you may know you have common law rights in your protectable trademarks just by using those marks in interstate or foreign commerce, so you might wonder why you should pay for a trademark registration. Protection from Cybersquatters While there are numerous reasons to register your mark as soon as possible, one of the more significant is that it’s [...]
