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 […]

This afternoon, Taylor Swift published a scathing and brutality honest response to the sale of Big Machine, and thereby, ownership of her masters. More can be found on her Instagram, but a snippet: “For years I asked, pleaded for a chance to own my work…Instead I was given an opportunity to sign back up to […]

There is a step of the registration process of trademarks that you must be informed of prior to filing: the tangible proof of your use of your goods and/or services in commerce required on your application. Trademark attorneys must walk a delicate balance in the name of protecting their clients: filing in a way that […]

This article first appeared on Boxwood Avenue. I’ve had the joy of knowing Chloe from Boxwood Avenue for a few years now, and was honored when she asked me to contribute to her blog with an article on what bloggers need to keep in mind to keep their blog legal. If you are a blogger, […]