Jan 22, 2019
Trademark Coexistence Agreements
A rejection received for many trademarks filed with the USPTO is likelihood of confusion, meaning the applied-for mark is confusingly similar to a registered mark. Overcoming a likelihood of rejection...
Intellectual Property
Jan 14, 2019
What is a “Poor Man’s Copyright?”
A lot of us have heard of a “poor man’s copyright” where you simply mail yourself something you want to have copyrighted. You then do not open the envelope and...
Jan 7, 2019
What is Intellectual Property (IP)?
Intellectual property (IP) is a term that includes property that essentially comes from the mind, including trademarks, copyrights, patents, and, to a lesser extent, trade secrets. It is vital to...
Jan 2, 2019
Copyright Infringement – Musical Compositions – Musicians Need to Know
The list of acts is impressive: Robin Thicke, Pharrell, Madonna, Lana Del Rey, Vanilla Ice, Ray Parker, Jr., The Verve, Sam Smith, and the list goes on. These are acts...
Dec 17, 2018
Trademark Office Action
USPTO calls it an Office Action, but let’s call it what it really is; It’s a rejection letter. For lack of a better metaphor, they have swiped left on your...
Oct 21, 2018
The Importance of Naming Your Business Correctly
When starting a new business, there are so many issues to concern yourself. Forming a company. Registering with the city. Filing taxes. Obtaining insurance. Hiring people. Forming partners. Opening a...
Oct 16, 2018
Protecting Intellectual Property
A Familiar Story Imagine creating something amazing. It’s well made and appreciated by your peers and shared among them. You spend time thinking and rethinking your work, making it better...
Jul 1, 2018
Registering a Trademark: Word mark, logo or slogan?
Special Thanks: I want to thank Jackie Wheeler of HomeSchool ThinkTank, a client of L4SB, for letting me use her trademark as the example for registering a trademark in this...
Jun 25, 2018
IHOP is Now IHOB: Can it Work for Me?
IHOP versus IHOb IHOP recently pulled off a major marketing gimmick with their name change to “IHOb.” The change has drawn criticism from many, but it certainly got people talking....
Nov 12, 2017
Intellectual Property 101: The Different Types of IP
Intellectual Property 101- Considering the Different Types of IP Many small business owners are confused about intellectual property, or as the legal community calls it, IP. Unfortunately for many business...
Nov 5, 2017
Trademark Descriptiveness and Law Firm Trademarks in New Mexico
New Mexico law firms seem to have increasingly sought to protect their names or other trademarks recently. Traditionally, firm names have been boring, consisting mainly of the last names of...
Oct 5, 2017
Trademarks Now Required for Amazon Brand Registry
Probably everyone is familiar with Amazon, one of the most successful and popular online retailers in the world. Amazon’s popularity makes it one of the best places for businesses to...