What is a Covenant not to Compete?
Employers often seek to enter into a covenant not to compete with employees. In many cases, the covenant is the best way to protect the employer from future harm. Also, many purchase agreements include covenants not to compete. Learn about covenants not to compete in the video below.
Categories: Intellectual Property, Startup
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Financing Your Vision
What does a startup entrepreneur need to know about financing a company? The entrepreneur needs to work with an adviser or accountant to create a realistic budget. Watch the video below to learn more about your options.
Categories: Crowdfunding, Startup, Venture Capital/Funding
Forming a Business Entity
Why should someone form a business entity? The main reason is to protect themselves from personal liability. Other benefits include attracting investors, marketing the company, maybe saving in taxes and helping to sell or transfer the company to a third party or other family members. Learn more about business entities and the benefits of forming a business entity in the short video clip below.
Foster Swift business attorneys realize entrepreneurs and business owners have many legal questions so we've developed a library of short videos to provide basic legal information on some of the more frequently asked questions. Click here to view our video library.
How to Protect Your Business's Intellectual Property
Sam Frederick and John Mashni, both attorneys for Foster Swift, will be presenting a live webinar on how to protect your business's intellectual property on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at the Lansing Regional Chamber Board Room. The webinar will be held from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
They will discuss copyright, trademark and trade secret basics and the importance of monitoring and enforcing your intellectual property rights. Frederick and Mashni will also present the best practices for protecting your intellectual property.
For more information and to register for the webinar, click here (We have identified that the following link is no longer active, and it has been removed.)
Categories: Intellectual Property, Patents, Trade Secrets, Trademarks
Get It In Writing: Contracts
Let's say you are going to get into business or enter into an agreement with someone you trust. Do you need to get it in writing? It is always a good idea to have a written agreement. Writing provides clarity. Even the process of working through what you have agreed to, to the point of reducing it to writing, will help you think more precisely about what you have agreed to do and what the other side has agreed to and to articulate better the terms of the agreement. Learn more about why you need to get it in writing in the video below.
Categories: IT Contracts
Patent Basics
So you just had a Eureka moment and your epiphany is going to make you millions as soon as it hits shelves. Learn more about patent basics in this short video including:
Categories: Intellectual Property, Patents
What's in a Name: Selecting a Name for Your Business
Why is a business name so important? A name is everything, it is your business's identity. When you select your business name, from a legal perspective, you need to come up with a unique name, a name that does not infringe on others rights. Unique names are the easiest to protect. Learn more about protecting you business name in the video below:
Categories: Intellectual Property, Trademarks
Why You Should Register Your Copyrights: The Benefits of Registration Under The Copyright Act
A copyright is automatically created upon the completion of an original work of authorship that is fixed in a tangible medium of expression. While an automatic copyright protects that work, a formal registration of copyrighted materials within three months of release to the general public provides extra benefits that can prove extremely valuable to the owner. These benefits serve to not only protect the copyrighted work, but also to provide additional remedies for the author in the event of infringement. Registering a copyright is as simple as submitting an application to the United States Copyright Office with a minimal filing fee and a copy of the copyrighted material. Then, once the work is registered, the benefits begin immediately. Read More ›
Categories: Copyright, Intellectual Property
U.S. Supreme Court Addresses Criminal Liability For Facebook Threats
Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the federal law that prohibits sending threats over the internet requires some level of intention by the sender. The ruling leaves some issues open but is significant for those who engage in hyperbole online. Read More ›
Categories: Social Media
Free Speech on Social Media: FTC Updates its Guidance on Social Media Endorsements
Social media is a great tool for companies to build their brands. Many have moved from nearly invisible to viral superstar status, thanks to a well-timed Tweet, Facebook post or clever YouTube video. But with this power comes risks.
One tried and true marketing tactic - both in social and traditional media - is leveraging the power of endorsements. If others are happily using or consuming a product it must be worthwhile, right? While the law and regulatory framework regarding social media promotion is still evolving, social media endorsement is an area that has recently received additional scrutiny from government regulators. Read More ›
Categories: Social Media
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