One of the biggest problems that trademark owners encounter is unintentionally abandoning their registered marks. This happens when the owner fails to renew the necessary maintenance documents when they’re required. Losing your trademark could irreparably damage your business, so you don’t want to forget to file these maintenance documents. To help you meet the deadlines,…
The Dangerous Commoditization of Legal Services
**Originally published Dec 22, 2015; Updated June 8, 2018** In October of 2014, LegalZoom and Sam’s Club entered into a partnership. In a press release, it was revealed that Sam’s Club customers would soon get discounts on a variety of LegalZoom products. Specifically, Sam’s Club discount shoppers can get, “a $299 Suite of Estate Planning…
Brand Name, Product Name, Business Name – What’s the Difference?
Did you know that a brand and business are not the same thing? The names could match, but they’re not the same thing. Did you know that a product and a brand are not the same thing? Again, the names could match, but they’re not the same thing. Are you confused? Don’t worry. You’re not…
What Are Copyrights and What Can You Copyright?
What are Copyrights? Copyright law gives people a way to protect the tangible expressions of their creative ideas, such as a writing (a blog, essay, book), a canvas, a sound recording, a photograph, a video game, and so forth. It also provides a set of rules that determine when a person can claim legal ownership…
Starting a Business? You Need a Plan for Success
According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), 409,040 small businesses with employees opened their doors in 2014, but 470,736 closed. The death rate for non-employer businesses is even worse—three times higher than the rate of employer firms! The SBA also reports that only half of new businesses survive for five years or more, and only…
Employee or Independent Contractor? How to Stay out of Expensive Trouble
If you hire independent contractors to work for your business, you need to make sure that they aren’t actually considered employees in the eyes of the IRS. As many large and small companies have discovered (most recently Google, Amazon, and Uber), misclassifying workers can be expensive. In fact, it could destroy your business entirely, which…