If you’ve ever applied for a trademark, you know the excitement of filing. But that can be dampened when you see an Office Action from the USPTO. An Office Action is not a rejection. This is the USPTO’s way of clearing up a few things before moving forward. So, what happens after a USPTO Office…
Choosing a business name can feel exciting at first. You brainstorm ideas, and maybe even start imagining the logo and marketing. Then comes the part many businesses overlook: making sure no one else is already using the name. This is more than checking federal trademark registrations. A business can still have trademark rights without ever…
When you have a SaaS product, you need a name that feels clean, modern, and maybe a bit clever. Once you pick something, you grab the domain and start sketching a logo. And a thought pops into your head, “What happens if someone else is holding the trademark?” Trademark clearance is not the most exciting…
You have been planning your website for weeks. And then you type in your name only to discover it’s already taken. Someone else owns the domain. Your name, your brand, and your online identity have been claimed before you even had a chance to stake your claim. What to do if someone registered your name…
When you license your intellectual property, that can be a great way to grow your business. This will expand your reach and generate revenue. However, once your IP is in someone else’s hands, you need to set boundaries. A strong licensing agreement is needed in these situations. With the right clauses, you can protect your…
When most people think of lawyers, they picture courtrooms, lawsuits, and arguments before a judge. But most of the legal world happens quietly behind the scenes, especially in business. Many companies rely on attorneys not to fight legal battles, but to prevent them in the first place. A licensing and commercial contracts lawyer plays a…
As an author, artist, musician, or content creator, you know that you need to protect your work. Once you have poured time, creativity, and effort into your ideas, you want to make sure no one else can take them without your permission. This is when you need to think about copyright and the protections that…
If you have licensed your intellectual property, royalties are at the heart of the deal. This is how you get paid and how licensees gain access without owning the IP outright. But how do royalty payments work in IP licensing deals? Here is a look at what you need to know about these agreements. With…
Registering a trademark is important for protecting your brand. Whether you’re launching a new business or protecting a product or service name, a federal trademark can help prevent others from using similar marks. What are the steps to register a trademark with the USPTO? The process may seem intimidating, but there is a clear path…
When launching a new business, product, or brand, you may want to quickly move from idea to execution. In the middle of your momentum, the trademark search step could be seen as optional or unnecessary. So, what happens if I skip the trademark search step? You might think that this is a way to save…
