Jason Sanders Law

Intellectual Property, Commercial and Corporate Points of Interest

A ‘Set It and Forget It’ Trademark Portfolio Just Got More Expensive

A ‘Set It and Forget It’ Trademark Portfolio Just Got More Expensive

If you’ve found it cost-effective to focus on your existing trademark registrations only when either there is a question of infringement or when it’s time for a maintenance filing, some new rules at the USPTO may change that calculation. Now may be the best time to review your portfolio. The USPTO has implemented changes intended to incentivize trademark owners to routinely audit their own registrations in order to avoid extra fees and third-party challenges, as well as to allow anyone to challenge certain existing registrations. The goal is to cull the trademark register of registrations for goods and services that don’t fulfill the use in commerce requirement, so-called ‘dead wood’ registrations. 

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Don’t Rely On These Fair Use Myths

Don’t Rely On These Fair Use Myths

“Which is real, a unicorn or a pony?” my daughter once asked. “Ponies are real, unicorns are made up, and I’m sorry to say you won’t be getting either for your birthday,” I responded. While myths about unicorns and dragons may be easily dispelled, some copyright fair use myths seem particularly enduring. People tend to gravitate towards a few simple (and often wrong) rules of thumb, possibly because the doctrine of fair use is such a fact-intensive inquiry and some of these misperceptions have a nugget of truth at their core. Falling into the trap of relying on any of these mistaken beliefs could lead to serious headaches and expenses down the road.

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Startup Fundraising – Making the Right Choices

Startup Fundraising – Making the Right Choices

I’ve recently noticed an uptick in startup clients raising money for the first time. Sometimes sales are booming and money is needed for expansion, sometimes it’s a strategic investment by a larger player, and other times it’s early stage money used to get the company started. Whatever the reason, if you’re a founder looking to raise money, it’s important to understand the difference between the three most common types of fundraising offerings – equity, convertible debt, and SAFEs. Choosing the right vehicle for the investment is essential for ensuring the fundraise moves smoothly and without surprises. At their most basic level …

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Protecting Brand Value

Protecting Brand Value

My daughters have created an imaginary conglomerate: Winston’s. I often overhear them workshopping slogans for this brand. Some of their slogans seem somewhat questionable, such as “Winston’s food, always edible, rarely poisonous.” Like many companies real and imagined, Winston’s has spent a lot of time in brand building. Now that it is creating this brand value, what are the legal steps it should take to protect it? For most companies, a simple and essential step to protecting brand value …

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A Legal Checklist for Starting a New Business

A Legal Checklist for Starting a New Business

My nine-year-old daughter recently informed me that she and her best friend were about to start a dog-walking business. I’d previously rebuffed her requests for our family to get a dog by noting my aversion to picking up dog poop. However, I thought this seemed a reasonable way for her to get some dog time, and some familiarity with the work involved with having a dog. I wasn’t deterred by her statement that the services would be free for dog owners, pre-IPO profitability not being particularly in vogue these days. But, as a lawyer and typical dad, I did have some questions – for example, what type of agreement had she reached with her best friend? Had she thought through liability waivers with the clients? What would the branding be and how would she protect it?

I assured her that while it might seem daunting, the legal aspect of starting a new business doesn’t need to be.

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JSL

Jason Sanders Law provides results-oriented legal advice in areas of intellectual property, corporate formation and growth, commercial transactions, and dispute resolution. Our clients include companies and individuals in media, software, marketing and advertising, fine arts, entertainment, design, food and beverages, and fashion, among other industries.