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
Revocable Trusts For Married Couples With A Non-Citizen Spouse
Regardless of whether you and your spouse are U.S. citizens, you should set up an estate plan, which consists of an Trust, Advance Health Care Directive, Financial Power of Attorney, and Will. Non-citizens can inherit property from a U.S. citizen, but if your spouse is not a citizen your estate plan must be carefully drafted. Only the estates of individuals who leave a gross estate of more than $5.49 million Read More
What Is A Buy-Sell Agreement And Why Every Business Needs One
A Buy-Sell Agreement is a legally binding agreement between co-owners of a business that governs how a co-owner’s ownership interest is handled if that co-owner dies, is forced to leave the business, or chooses to leave the business. The situations where a Buy-Sell Agreement would be triggered include a co-owner attempting to sell his ownership interest to a third party, divorcing a spouse, declaring for Read More
Understanding The California Uniform Fiduciary Access To Digital Assets Act
There is not currently any federal law regulating access to digital assets. The Revised Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act (UFADAA) took effect in California (California Bill AB-691) on January 1, 2017. The UFADAA allows you to give an executor, administrator, trustee, power of attorney agent, or court-appointed conservator authority over your digital assets upon death or incapacitation. This Read More
