BizSugar.com › User › lkpetrolino › Submitted

In previous articles I have discussed the fact that generic terms are not subject to trademark protection. Thus, for example, a web designer likely could not trademark the phrase “Professional Web Design”, because everyone who provides web design services needs to use this phrase to describe their Read More

Stop letting the big bad economy control your business. If you have said “business is not good because of the economy” then you may be making excuses. Only you really control the rise and fall of your business. You ultimately make the decisions. Not the economy. A down economy is merely one more ob Read More

You start a business with a great idea or skill, then you find out there’s marketing, accounting and so much more to do as well. It can be tough.

So I’m guessing you don’t want another ‘should’ on top of the pile… but before you give up and move onto something familiar, let me explain about con Read More

Earlier this month we shared with our members that Gov. Pat Quinn signed in to law the Religious Freedom and Civil Union Act.

This law becomes effective on June 1, 2011.

What is this law?

It defines a civil union as a legal relationship between two persons of the same or opposite sex. Fur Read More

When developing a new brand-based business, there are several important legal issues that need to be considered and proactively addressed. By taking steps to protect the brand at the outset, the brand's owners can help avoid unnecessary issues and maximize the value of their intellectual property—u Read More

Anyone that knows me at all, knows I have an obsession with the beach and being out on the water. I’m an Aquarian....we dig water :)

As a result of that obsession, I have recently become quite passionate about the sport of Stand Up Paddle boarding (otherwise known as SUP...which makes me feel co Read More

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has resumed sending employers no-match letters, Mary Pivec, an attorney with Keller and Heckman, told SHRM Online in an April 12, 2011, interview. The SSA stopped sending no-match letters after litigation arose in 2007 challenging a proposed no-match rule is Read More

This article discusses some key considerations for developing a valuable brand from a legal perspective, including: selecting a protectable trademark, making sure the trademark is available, and registering and enforcing your trademark rights. Read More

Last week I discussed some considerations for choosing between the various legal entities that are available when you start a new business venture. I noted that, while not always the best choice, limited liability companies (LLCs) are often the best choice for new business ventures—especially wher Read More

Summer is simply a different time of year, kids are out of school, people are on vacation, the atmosphere is more laid back in some ways and more frantic in others. Summer is the best time of year for some businesses and the worst time of year for others. Regardless of where your business fits in t Read More