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By: Sagacity Legal PLLC

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Randi Karpinia

Latest from The Legal Blog

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Trademark Alert A newly enacted USPTO rule in effect February 15, 2020 makes electronic communication mandatory in all trademark matters.   The Trademark Communication Rule at a Glance All communication with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in Trademark matters must be electronic. All trademark applications and documents must be filed using the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS). Trademark applicants must provide and maintain an accurate email and domicile address. Trademark applicants must provide…
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The Original Gold Rush A few months ago, while cleaning out some old boxes, I came upon some old stock certificates for a gold mining company.  For just a moment, I thought “wow, I might be rich.” It’s kind of like when you buy that lottery ticket but the numbers haven’t yet been drawn.  A bit of research and I realized the value of these certificates were solely in the “coolness factor.” As I researched…
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Every morning I peruse the news on my phone while enjoying my first cup of coffee. Today, this caught my eye: LinkedIn Reaches 675 Million Members, Continues to See ‘Record Levels of Engagement’ The article, published on January 31, 2020 by Social Media Today, summarized the findings of Microsoft’s FY20 Q2 Report including the fact that LinkedIn added 15 million new members in just the past three months. “We saw record levels of member engagement…
Your business identity includes your company name, product name, tagline, and/or logo.  Your business identity is personal, emotional, AND valuable. Registering the trademark for each business identity is a low-priced, high value action to secure your success. Trademark Symbol Before Federal Registration Whenever and wherever you use your business identity, let people know it’s yours by including the appropriate notice symbol. Trademark Notice Symbols Even before you obtain Federal Registration status by registering your mark…
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Owning your own business can be so rewarding and fulfilling! You’re able to pursue your passion, expand your horizons, build a legacy, help others, and maybe even change the world! But then…. Life happens. Even to business owners. Especially to business owners. Should you take time off from your business? Sometimes taking a break from your business is the perfect thing to do.     One of my clients recently came to that crossroads. A…
When you launched your business, did you spend hours brainstorming and getting opinions from others; changing your mind multiple times along the way, and finally selecting your perfect name?  Did you find a name that reflects the personality, objectives, and mission of your business? Afterwards, did you protect that perfect name? Claim the URL, social media accounts, and registering its trademark? But what should you do when that perfect business name isn’t perfect any…
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“Into each life some rain must fall.  Some days must be dark and dreary.”– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Life in a Natural Disaster-Prone Paradise I live in a beautiful location.  Southeast Florida right on the water.  It’s a paradise most of the year. This home was a dream home for David and me when we bought it 16 years ago.  The price I pay: living where a natural disaster may hit: a hurricane-prone location. Hurricanes do…
With today’s technology, starting a home-based and/or online service business can be as simple as letting others know about your expertise, establishing a website or social media page, publishing an ad and/or other eCommerce offer.  Voila, you’re in business.   Why not just a sole-proprietorship? Many service-based small businesses choose to operate as a sole-proprietorship or independent contractor.  Compared to other business structures, setting up a sole proprietorship is fairly easy and less costly. For…
Happy Holiday It’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays… Yes, the end of December is ripe with holidays.  Chanukah, Christmas, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, and even Festivus all occur within the same week.   As a small business owner, I’m so grateful for the many fantastic opportunities that this time of year brings.   Opportunities to say “thank you” to my clients, mentors, suppliers, and partners who helped make my business a success this year.  Opportunities to…
Development of an innovation strategy builds an intellectual property “fence” for your company. This fence draws a boundary around the intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, publications) of your company. The ultimate formation of the fence (e.g., memorialization of the innovation) may take many forms including: Offensive intellectual property positions attracts investors and partners, maintains a competitive advantage by protecting core business technology, and creates exit options Defensive intellectual property positions provides a defense…