Did you know that it could take anywhere from seven months to more than two years to get a federal trademark registration? A new Trademark Timeline infographic from Innovation to Profits (shown below) reveals that there are three primary things that can cause delays in the trademark registration process: 1. Office Actions These come from the examining attorney at the U.S. … [Read more...]
Why Your Trademark Registration Might Be Useless – Infographic
Did you know that registering a trademark doesn't always mean you can protect your brand name, product name, logo, or other marks? Believe it or not, you can obtain a trademark registration but in the future, if someone infringes on your trademark rights, you might not actually be able to do anything to stop them. The reason is simple. If your trademark is too descriptive, … [Read more...]
3 Types of Trademark Misuse in Social Media – Beware and Be Informed
The most recent issue of Social Media Monthly magazine includes an article written by intellectual property attorney, Kelley Keller (who is also a Women on Business contributor). The article is filled with great information about trademarks, including a clear description of the three primary categories of trademark misuse that happen in social media. If you run a business … [Read more...]
8 Legal “To-Do’s” for Your Rebranding Campaign
Many factors influence a business’s decision to undergo a rebranding initiative. Whether the process occurs intentionally in an effort to reposition the brand or move it upmarket, or unintentionally as a result of unplanned circumstances, such as a bankruptcy or corporate restructuring, it must be carefully considered and thoughtfully planned. Presenting a differentiated … [Read more...]
How to Choose a Strong Name to Trademark for Your Business or Brand
The strength of a trademark is directly related to the nature of its distinctive character. Whether a mark is distinctive is measured by the uniqueness of relationship between the mark and underlying goods or services. Trademark distinctiveness is a key element in determining the strength of mark and accompanying scope of legal protection available accorded to it. Moreover, it … [Read more...]
The Business of Naming Your Business: Early Decisions and Early Mistakes
Starting a business is an exciting venture, but also quite the undertaking. Anyone who has braved the entrepreneurial path knows all too well just how much time, energy, and money is required to get a young company off the ground, not to mention the further investment required to sustain and grow it. Before a new business evens get out of the starting gate, its commercial … [Read more...]
Cell Phone Distracted Driving Policy Template to Protect Your Company and Employees
Earlier this month, I shared an infographic filled with disturbing statistics about cell phone distracted driving that make the case for banning or reducing cell phone use by employees while they're working. For example, the National Safety Council---a nonprofit organization whose mission is to save lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes, in communities, … [Read more...]
Entertainment Licencing for Business Events
Your holding an event with a music performance in the U.K. Do you need to get an entertainment license? Here are the basics that you need to know. Under the 2003 Licensing Act, there was a range of live music performances that could take place without a license for event purposes. The Live Music Act of 2012 broadens the range of live music performances that can take place, … [Read more...]
When Is It Time to Hire an Attorney?
Guest Post by Melissa Woodson, community manager for Washington University in St. Louis (learn more about Melissa at the end of this article). The numbers don’t lie: Women in the United States start businesses at a higher rate than men and are expected to create over half of the jobs in small business by 2018, Forbes recently noted. The article “Entrepreneurship is the New … [Read more...]
What It Takes to Be a Woman Fortune 500 General Counsel
What does it take to be general counsel for a Fortune 500 company as a woman? It's not a common position for a woman despite the fact that it's 2012. In a video from Bloomberg, Michele Coleman Mayes, former general counsel for Allstate Insurance Company and co-author of Courageous Counsel: Conversations with Women General Counsel in the Fortune 500, talks about her book and … [Read more...]