The Road Ahead
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Jan 7, 2021 in Business' Intellectual Property
On New Year’s Day, I hiked throughout the Cedar Creek Preserve in northeast Florida. I enjoyed the peaceful views of the saltwater marshes and the pine needle-covered pathways as I walked through a cathedral of pine trees. I had to protect myself from biting insects and watch for rattlesnakes along the way. Later, it struck me that the entire hike could be seen as a microcosm of the New Year we have just entered. We […]
Continue ReadingeBay’s Bid to Crack Down on Counterfeits Could Impact IP Protection
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Nov 5, 2020 in Business' Intellectual Property
There are a lot of counterfeit products on digital marketplaces like Amazon and eBay. The most common category of “knockoff” products? Apparel. The second most common category? Footwear. Amazon does not require third-party sellers to verify the authenticity of sneakers. Largely because of the failure to verify authenticity, both Birkenstock (in 2016) and Nike (in 2019) have stopped offering their products on the marketplace giant. Perhaps looking to avoid a similar fate, eBay recently announced […]
Continue ReadingIP Tips for Business Owners During a Downturn in the Economy
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney May 7, 2020 in Basics of Intellectual Property
Great ideas and new businesses are often born during downturns in the economy. Resourceful people are out of work, or their businesses have been shut down. And they start to think about the business they always wanted to start, the clever new product they considered developing, or even selling their business. With time on their hands and no money coming into the business or household, many start thinking of ways they can solve their problems. […]
Continue ReadingRecipes and the Trouble with Copyright Protection
Marks Gray Feb 13, 2020 in Business' Intellectual Property
Are you starting a new restaurant based on some family recipes? Or selling fresh baked goods based on a recipe you created? Are you thinking about how to protect that recipe so no one else will copy or steal it? Make sure you educate yourself on how best to protect your recipe. A recipe is considered “a mere listing of ingredients” and is not protected under copyright law. However, if the recipe is accompanied by […]
Continue Reading5 New Year Tips for Business Owners
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Jan 2, 2020 in Basics of Intellectual Property
Written by Guest Author, Marks Gray Associate Logan McEwen Happy New Year! Start off the new decade the right way for your business with the following tips to protect your growth and curb problems early. Audit Your Trademark Registrations and Business Accounts The lack of simple oversight often trips up businesses whenever personnel or IT providers change. Make sure problems aren’t lying in wait for you. From federal trademark registrations to state business filings, important notices […]
Continue ReadingDrastic Changes to Canadian Trademark Law Take Effect in June 2019
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Apr 18, 2019 in Business' Intellectual Property
Written by Guest Author, Marks Gray Associate Logan McEwen Trademarks in Canada are looking at a major overhaul effective June 17, 2019 as Canadian legislation adopting the Singapore Treaty, Nice Agreement, and Madrid Protocol are implemented. How the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) examines and approves trademark applications will be remarkably different. A short highlight reel includes: Registrable marks will now include scents, holograms, color combinations, and animated images alongside traditional word marks, design marks, […]
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