Letters of Protest: Your Early Defense Against Problem Trademarks **Attorney Advertising**
You’re scrolling through trademark filings and suddenly spot it: someone’s trying to register a trademark that’s uncomfortably similar to yours, or perhaps one that’s clearly descriptive of the goods being sold. What can you do before this becomes a bigger problem? Enter the Letter of Protest – a powerful but often overlooked tool in trademark […]
Business Music Licensing: Are You Unknowingly Breaking the Law? **Attorney Advertising **
Picture this: You’re creating the perfect ambiance in your café, retail store, or office with your favorite Spotify playlist. Seems harmless, right? Here’s the reality check: if you’re using a personal streaming account for business purposes, you might be risking costly legal consequences. Understanding Music Licensing in Business When it comes to playing music in […]
Navigating Stock Photo Rights: Don’t Let “License Free” Fool You **Attorney Advertising**
Over the years of protecting creative professionals, we’ve encountered countless situations where “free” stock photos came with unexpected legal consequences. We regularly work with content creators who believed they were using properly licensed images, only to face copyright infringement claims later. The problem often isn’t malicious intent – it’s misunderstanding the complex world of image […]
Public Domain 2025: Your Creative Possibilities Expand **Attorney Advertising**
Remember when adapting classic works meant navigating complex licensing agreements? As we welcome 2025, a new collection of cultural treasures becomes freely available for creators of all types – from playwrights and filmmakers to artists and musicians. Understanding Your Creative Freedom The public domain represents our shared cultural heritage. When works enter this space, they […]
Should You Sue for IP Infringement? Three Key Questions to Ask First **Attorney Advertising **
That sinking feeling when you discover someone copying your intellectual property – it’s personal, it’s frustrating, and it often triggers an immediate urge to take legal action. Before you speed-dial your attorney, let’s explore three crucial considerations that could save you time, money, and stress. 1. Can You Prove Actual Harm? Spotting a similar logo […]
Patent Pools: When Tech Companies Play Nice to Play Smart **Attorney Advertising**
Remember sharing your toys in kindergarten? Well, big tech companies do something similar with their patents, and it’s called a patent pool. It might sound complicated, but it’s actually a brilliant way for competitors to work together and create better products for all of us. What’s a Patent Pool, Anyway?Think of it like a library […]
Common Law vs. Registered Trademarks: Is “Just Using It” Enough? **Attorney Advertising**
You’ve picked the perfect name for your business, designed a great logo, and started using them everywhere. That means you own the trademark, right? Well, yes and no. While using your trademark does give you some rights, relying solely on “common law” rights might leave your brand more vulnerable than you’d like. The Power of […]
Copyright Easter Eggs: The Surprising Things You Didn’t Know Were Protected **Attorney Advertising**
Think copyright is just about books, music, and movies? Actually, the world of copyright protection is full of surprising treasures hiding in plain sight. Let’s uncover some of the most unexpected things that enjoy copyright protection in our everyday lives. That Fancy Font on Your Coffee Cup Next time you’re sipping your morning brew, take […]
Border Control: How Your Trademark Registration Fights Counterfeits **Attorney Advertising**
Picture this: A shipping container full of knockoff versions of your product is headed to U.S. shores. Without a registered trademark, those fakes might slip right through customs and into the market, damaging your brand’s reputation and your bottom line. But with the right registration strategy, you can turn U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) […]
What Counts as “Use in Commerce” for Your Trademark? **Attorney Advertising**
Many entrepreneurs are surprised to learn that simply printing business cards or launching a website isn’t enough to establish trademark rights. “Use in commerce” has a specific legal meaning that goes beyond just announcing your brand to the world. Let’s demystify what really counts. The Legal Standard For trademark purposes, “use in commerce” means your […]
