If you do not have a Power of Attorney for Finance (“POA”) as a part of your estate plan when you become incapacitated, the results may be devastating. Your family will almost undoubtedly have to petition the court to establish a conservatorship to make financial decisions on your behalf (and medical decisions if you do not have an Advance Health Care Directive (“AHCD”). With a POA, your family will likely be Read More
What Are My Options If My Trademark Office Action Will Be Denied?
Trademark applications are commonly refused because of a likelihood of confusion between the applicant’s mark and a prior pending or existing registered mark. If your trademark application falls in this category and responding to an Office Action is not feasible or your response will not approved, there are several other options you can pursue to remedy the issue. Negotiate With The Owner of the Read More
What Is The Trademark Registration Process In The U.S.?
Filing a trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) starts an often complex and lengthy legal proceeding that continues for approximately eight or twelve months. A timeline of the most critical stages is helpful to understanding the overall process. Initial Filing and Examination Process You can file a Use-Based application or an Intent-To-Use application using the Read More
What Is An Acceptable Trademark Specimen?
To obtain or renew your trademark registration, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) requires you to submit a trademark specimen for each class of goods or services used in commerce. Understanding how to submit an acceptable trademark specimen will help secure your trademark registration without problems. A trademark specimen is a real-life example of how you actually use your trademark in connection Read More
How Do I Respond To A USPTO “Likelihood of Confusion” Office Action?
You did the right thing to protect your brand or new product name, and you successfully submitted your trademark application to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. After months of waiting, you finally receive word from the USPTO. But it’s an email titled OFFICE ACTION with a warning that failure to respond will cause you to abandon your trademark application. Don’t worry, receiving an Office Action does not Read More
How Do I Respond To A Trademark Application Office Action?
When it comes to responding to a United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Office Action, at first glance it’s easy to become intimidated. However, it is like many other processes: step by step and in the right sequence, addressing only what needs to be addressed. Being informed about terms and the reasons for the Office Action will bring you powerful knowledge so you’ll spend your time and energy Read More
What The Tax Cuts And Jobs Act May Mean For Estate Planning
The latest tax reform made sweeping changes to the U.S. Tax Code. Learn more about what these changes may mean for estate planning. On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed the Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA) into law. The TCJA provides the most comprehensive reform of the United States Tax Code in over 30 years. One significant area impacted by the new law is estate planning, where reforms could have major Read More
What Happens When A Business Contract Is Breached In California?
When two parties sign a contract, each is expected to carry out their end of the deal. But if one party fails to deliver, the other may pursue legal action. During business deals and other types of transactions, it’s common for two or more parties to sign a contract to ensure each party holds up to their end of the deal. When one of those parties fails to carry out their terms of the contract, they’ve breached Read More
Top 3 Tax Law Changes Affecting Small Businesses
On December 22, 2017, President Donald Trump signed a sweeping tax bill that changed taxes for nearly all Americans. While some of these changes affect individuals’ taxes, the top 3 changes that affect small businesses are as follows: 1. 20% TAX DEDUCTION FOR PASS-THROUGH ENTITIES The net profits of S-corporations, LLCs, and sole proprietorships “pass through” the entity and are taxed at the Read More
Penalties For Not Filing Your LLC Or Corporation Statement Of Information
After forming LLCs or corporations, people often forget to properly manage the company. This is necessary to maintain limited liability protection. This includes holding annual meetings, paying fees, and filing taxes and documents. Pursuant to California law, every California LLC and corporation (non-profit and for-profit) must file a Statement of Information with the California Secretary of State within 90 Read More
