We’re living in unprecedented times, without question. COVID-19 has seemingly turned the world on its head in 2020, and questions  remain in the wake of state reopenings.  One immediately pressing question is whether or not states have the legal right to require citizens to wear masks. In a word, yes. This right has been well […]

A recent development in the Washington Redskins case showcases a rare side of trademark disputes, and more importantly: the risk that any business owner runs by waiting too long to trademark their name. What’s in a name? In order for it to be applicable for a trademark registration, it must be more than creative- it […]

Call it what you want to: Taylor Swift isn’t just a music mogul, she’s proven herself as a savvy businesswoman over the years as well. For every hit she’s put out over the decade, a series of trademark applications have followed (175 and counting, to be exact). Using Swift’s USPTO history is not just a […]

As I learned from hands on experience this summer, one of the most important steps a business owner can take is to ensure that their personal estate is in order, so that their failure to plan personally does not have a ripple effect on their business.  A shocking amount of families do not have their […]

If you see another company using your trademark, there are reasons more than just principle that should compel you to take action: failing to do so could put the validity of your registration at risk. Trademark dilution occurs when another entity uses another company’s trademark in such a way as to cause the registered mark’s […]

When registering a trademark, there are technically two forms of registers that you can register on: the Principal and Supplemental register. Both are federal registers maintained by the USPTO. The Supplemental Register is the secondary list maintained by the USPTO for registered trademarks that do not qualify for the Principal Register. A mark may be […]

Take a look at an entrepreneur (in any industry) that you look up to or respect. How many of them are in the exact same business model, or even the same business altogether, than they were the day they began? The answer is typically: not many. If there’s a hallmark of entrepreneurship, it’s likely that […]

Many times, business owners want to claim the trademark for their business name, before they have officially launched the business to the public. While the USPTO has created strict stipulations around how exactly this must be accomplished, it is in fact possible: by filing what’s called a 1B application. As a background: In order to […]

First things first: if your business is anything other than a hobby, or even merely a profitable hobby, you should at least have an LLC. Here’s why. Second, generally speaking, an LLC is the most flexible, and therefore the most prudent form of business formation for the vast majority of small to mid-sized business owners. […]

Entering into partnerships can oftentimes be one of the most prudent ways to grow your business; provided, of course, that you take time to do so correctly. It does not matter how well you and your business partner get along now, you must take the time to put the proper agreements in place. In a […]