Startups and small businesses should take trademark law seriously! You must protect what's yours and avoid infringing the trademarks of others. Whether in Kansas City or on the coasts, it is critical that startups and small businesses understand and comply with trademark law. In this post we'll walk you through the basics of what you [...]
Copyright law is confusing, even for many business attorneys. But you can't ignore it. It's too important. Regardless if you are a high-growth startup, a freelancer, or a small business in Kansas City, you need to take copyright law seriously. More specifically, you need to make sure you own the copyright in your works and that [...]
If someone steals your work and publishes it online, you can probably take it down using the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Today was not the first time (and it won't be the last) that I take advantage of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to protect my clients. This story is pretty short, but it teaches [...]
One of the most important decisions founders make is whether to form a LLC or a Corporation. This post can help you decide which is best for you. When starting a new business you will usually create some form of business entity - the most popular options are Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) and Corporations. [...]
Just about anyone can form an LLC or Corporation by filing a simple online form with your SOS. Here's an explainer, plus a cautionary note. When you want to form a business entity to protect your personal assets, you'll most likely create either a LLC or a Corporation. The formation process is really easy, [...]
ISPs should not be allowed to discriminate with respect to the content it transmits. That is the heart of what is known as Net Neutrality. I've written about this before (here and here) and others have written about it online.... a lot... Google it. The FCC put a legal framework in place in 2015 that [...]
Entrepreneurs often think they need to incorporate in Delaware. In this post we'll look at whether that is the best decision (hint - often it's not). What it means to "Incorporate" To "incorporate" means to form a Corporation. If you are forming a LLC, your state may call that an "incorporation" too, or they [...]
Ownership of intellectual property is a critical issue in many contract negotiations. Learn the basics about what entrepreneurs should know in this post. Intellectual property is often the most valuable asset of many companies, especially startups. That's why it is important to clearly address ownership of intellectual property in your contracts with third parties. [...]
When working with a client or a contractor, it is often best to use an MSA/SOW contract format. In this post we'll explain why and how to do it. Lots of our Kansas City based startups, freelancers, and small business clients use MSAs and SOWs because they are really efficient. Below is a recap [...]
When you start a new business the IRS will put you into one of four tax classes. Do you know the differences? While you don't need to be an expert, you should understand the differences in these tax classes to make sure you are compliant with tax laws. Sometimes you must stick with the default, but other [...]