Don’t Panic: What to Do When You Receive a Cease & Desist Letter

If you’ve received a cease-and-desist letter, now is the time when it is most important to engage in rational decision-making. There is a famous saying by Carl von Clausewitz that war is “simply the continuation of political intercourse, with the addition of other means.” Similarly, litigation, and pre-litigation activity like cease-and-desist letters, can often be … Read More

The One Thing People Who File Trademarks On Their Own Always Get Wrong

You don’t need to be an experienced attorney to file for a trademark. It’s not that hard. Don’t get me wrong: If you don’t know what you’re doing, there’s a good chance you’ll get it wrong. But it’s not that hard to do. You’ll have to spend a whole bunch of time online reading and … Read More

Trade Names, Company Names & Trademarks – Sorting Through the Confusion

A common source of confusion is whether the name of one’s company is a trademark. The short answer is that it can be. The rest of this blog will explain the answer more fully. But, before we can proceed, let’s define some terminology: Trade Name –  “Any name used by a person to identify his or … Read More

Startup Checklist

The Ultimate Startup Checklist

By combing the Interwebs, poring through my personal library, and applying my own experience in working with more than 100 startups, I’ve compiled this checklist of 25 items to review and consider as you launch your startup. I hope you find it useful. Decide whether starting a business is right for you and what kind … Read More