If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, or creative professional, you’ve likely come across the term “USPTO.” But what exactly is it, and why is it important for protecting your brand and intellectual property? The United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce responsible for granting patents and registering trademarks. Its primary …
Whether you’re launching a new business, product, or service — or looking to strengthen the protection of an existing one — choosing the right trademark is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. A trademark is more than just a name or logo; it’s the face of your brand, a legal asset, and a powerful tool to set you …
If you’ve ever looked closely at brand names, logos, or creative works, you’ve likely seen the symbols TM (™), SM (℠), Registered Trademark (®), and Copyright (©). While they all relate to intellectual property protection, they serve different legal purposes. Understanding these symbols can help businesses and creators protect their brands and works effectively. The Trademark (™) Symbol The TM …
When building a business, protecting your brand identity is essential. Two key legal tools for this protection are trademarks and service marks. While both serve to protect the uniqueness of your brand, they apply to different aspects of commerce. Understanding the distinction between the two can help you properly protect your intellectual property and avoid potential legal issues. Trademarks (TM) …
A trademark is a form of intellectual property that helps distinguish a business’s goods or services from those of others. Trademarks can be words, phrases, symbols, designs, or a combination of these elements that represent a brand. Trademarks provide legal protection, helping business owners ensure that only they have the exclusive right to use the mark in connection with their …
The Billable Mom with Cari Rincker, Episode 8 In this episode of The Billable Mom, Cari Rincker speaks with Amber Miller, a partner at Crenshaw, Dupree & Milam, LLP. Amber helps clients with agricultural and business law matters, specializing in property rights and real estate, entity formation and corporate law, contract drafting and negotiations, while also assisting clients with federal …
Do you have dreams of starting a business? If so, then you may not realize how important it is that you choose the right business structure. With the advice of a Champaign business law attorney, you can ensure that you choose the structure that gives you just the right balance of control and protection. For instance, if you prefer to …
My office just drafted a simple general release form for an agri-business client seeking permission to videotape client testimonials and use the recordings online. I think it’s a great idea to have a simple consent form to use for these types of situations where video-taped, audio-recorded and/or written testimonials are used in marketing materials. I suggest having language about the …
A business is an asset. Just because one spouse acquired a business interest before the marriage does not mean that it, or part of it, is not going to be considered marital property. In Illinois, business interest is subject to equitable distribution if: • the business ownership was acquired during the marriage; • there was an increase in value of …
Super pumped for Michael Meyer, corporate photographer extraordinaire,for his new podcast called the “Legal Marketing Studio“, available via SoundCloud and iTunes. The podcast was just released and I’m in Episode 3 on book publishing. I talk about my New York food and agriculture book (my first child) and my recently published book on New York divorce and family law (both …
For you attorneys and entrepreneurs out there, I recently wrote a guest blog post for Law Firm Suites on “How My Decision to Practice Law from a Virtual Office Jump Started My Law Firm“. Although it is focused on New York City law practices, it can be helpful for any type of entrepreneur. The reality for me is that I …
I get contacted from time-to-time from those interested in being a food and agriculture lawyer or hanging their own shingle in any area of law. I wanted to note a book that I recently read titled “The Happy Law Practice.” I have a few colleagues that were involved with putting this book together including Amy Neiman from A Simplified Life, …