In a follow up to our 2020 retrospective from last month, it’s time for a prospective survey covering some of the major cases that could be shaping the legal landscape in 2021, relevant to trademark and social media areas. As discussed in that countdown article, Tiffany v. Costco culminated a warehouse club-sized trademark fair use […]
Trademark
5 Reasons Why Federal Trademark Registrations are Important
Business owners and entrepreneurs have many things to consider when opening a business. From selecting a name and deciding on a location, to advertising and hiring the best employees, the to-do list can seem never ending. After investing significant time and money into your business, you will want to know that your investment is protected. […]
How to Choose a Business Name for Your LLC
You have created a rock solid business plan and you are ready to form an LLC. But how do you go about choosing the right name for your business? When you form an LLC, choosing the right name is about creativity and good planning. For a small business owner, choosing a name that reflects the […]
5 Expert Tips for Trademarking Your Startup
“Why join the navy if you can be a pirate?” – Steve Jobs A startup could be considered a simple belief—a belief that you have a new product or service that is going to revolutionize the market you’re entering. However, look in the dictionary and it’ll tell you that a startup is simply a “newly […]
Trademark Ownership Strategy
I’ve stressed the importance of trademarks on many occasions. In short, owning (and controlling) the brand name is essential on the journey of franchising. It’s one of the many reasons that California cannabis companies can’t franchise. Acquiring the trademark isn’t the only thing you need to consider when going through this process. One important, yet often […]
12 Unspoken Rules for Creating Catchy Business Names
A name that sticks is a name that will win. With so much competition in almost every industry, it is difficult for upcoming businesses to get recognized. Naming is one way to do that, as a catchy business name is unique and memorable for your customers. Finding such a name is going to take a […]
Don’t Neglect These Trademark Basics to Protect Your Product
When it comes to intellectual property, protection is more than just in a name. Trademarks are anything that can indicate to consumers that a product originates from a specific source. Brand names and slogans are typical trademarks, but even a red sole on a shoe (a la Louboutin) can function as a trademark. Search, Search, […]
How to Choose a Name for Your Business (That You Won’t Regret)
One of the most important choices you’ll make as a business owner is choosing a name for your business. Your name is the face of your brand and conveys what it stands for. So, how do you go about selecting a memorable one? If you have $50,000 to spend on a top-tier naming company, go for it. […]
3 Common Pitfalls of Your Trademark Application
Protecting the name of your business is a vital step toward franchising. It also has other important business implications. Think of it as the modern-day version of staking claim to land in the wild west. By trademarking your brand, you’re defending a key asset of your business. It’s the declaration that this belongs to you, […]
Trademarks for Proprietary Products: What You Need to Know
Franchisors that are serious about developing additional revenue streams in their franchise will ultimately explore proprietary products. By creating new products either under the brand or as a stand-alone entity, franchisors can sell and distribute their own products to franchisees. An example would be a pizza franchise that sells their pizza sauce to franchisees and […]
