Welcome to The Legalpreneur Blog

Here’s the thing: you don’t know what you don’t know and you can learn as you go, correcting your path as you go. But some mistakes are just too costly to make.

That’s why we’ve put together an abundance of free resources for you to learn from, use, and share with your business bestie!

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Understanding the SHEIN RICO Case

Fashion retailer SHEIN has found itself caught up in a legal battle over alleged racketeering activities. The case has raised concerns among SHEIN customers and the fashion industry as a whole. SHEIN and similar companies have provided nothing but problems for small businesses due to the practices of these companies.

How to Legally Start a Podcast

If you are one of these entrepreneurs or amateurs who want to start a podcast, you should know that there are some legal issues involved with doing so. In this post I’ll explain what they are so that when you do decide to take the plunge into podcasting land, you know what is required of you legally speaking.

Do I need an LLC for my side hustle?

Do I need an LLC for my side hustle?

If you’re like most people today, you have a side hustle that helps fill in the gaps between your regular job and whatever else is going on in your life. You might be a freelance writer, a podcaster, a social media consultant, an influencer or user-generated content (UGC) creator doing brand deals, or maybe even an app developer or digital marketer. If you work for yourself, then you need to make sure that everything is set up correctly from day one so that nothing falls through the cracks down the road.

The Content Creator’s Blueprint to Legal: Part One

Content creators, you are more than just an artist. You are a business, even if you think it’s just a hobby or side-hustle, and a lucrative one at that. And it’s time you take the right steps to secure your assets and grow your business.

What is ADA Compliance Blog Post

What is ADA Compliance?

Are you running a business that follows the laws, codes of conducts and professional ethics of your respected industry? Is your business inclusive of all people? Is your website accessible to those with disabilities? Clients often ask me what it means to be in compliance, so let’s start with ADA Compliance.

The Mindset Blocks that are keeping you stuck as an entrepreneur Blog Post

The Mindset Blocks that are Keeping You Stuck as an Entrepreneur.

Sometimes, we’re so afraid of our own success, that we sabotage ourselves before we can even start. It doesn’t matter how high achieving you are, or the degrees on your wall — there’s something about starting a company that will trigger all of your insecurities, and mirror to you the ways you’ve been holding your own talents hostage.

Legally Creating a Legacy Brand Blog Post

Legally Creating a Legacy Brand

Legalpreneur member Tiffany Neuman is changing how we see branding, one company and one legacy at a time. A visionary entrepreneur, she founded Tiffany Nueman Creative as a means of helping founders cement their mark in the world of business through her Legacy Brand Method. Not only is she the go-to branding expert, she’s also penned articles at top-tier media outlets, including Forbes and Entrepreneur, and has yielded impressive results for small business owners.

AndreaSagerpodcast - The Legalpreneur

What is a Trademark Opposition?

A trademark opposition is no fun, especially when you thought you were in the clear. But it definitely doesn’t have to be the end of the road for your trademark application.

What exactly is IP? No, it’s not your IP address..

For so many, the term “IP” is a part of everyday life, but most Americans may only have the vaguest idea of what the term actually means. No, the IP I’m referring to is not your IP address that identifies your computer network. Be it in news reports, common usage, or in the disclaimers on many products, “IP” impacts our lives on a daily basis and in many ways we don’t even consider. The IP I’m referring to is intellectual property. Intellectual property is an intangible creation that may be protected with a trademark, copyright or patent. When you’re a creator, this is the most important type of protection you may ever need to be concerned with. Below is a brief explanation of the types of intellectual property and where you might see them.

What to do when someone rips off your work

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) allows anyone with a claim to unique work to help preserve their ownership and use of it through what is known as a DMCA takedown notice. This notice serves to alert companies hosting your copyrighted work that it is being used illegally and without your consent to serve the purposes of another. 

3 Things You Can Do When Someone Uses Your Photo Without Permission

Have you ever been browsing through the internet and you find a photo that you have taken and you realize it’s not your account that posted the photo? If so, you’re not alone. What’s even worse, it may not even be someone reposting your content and giving you credit. When this happens, there are typically 3 routes you can take to rectify the situation. 

50 Things That Can Be Copyrighted

Every single day I have a client say, “Oh! I didn’t know that could be copyrighted!” Because of this, I’ve decided to compile a list of 50 things that can be copyrighted. I won’t go into the details about copyrights here, but you can read about the basics of a copyright here. 

What Is Trademark Infringement?

I know you’ve heard of a trademark. And you’ve probably heard of trademark infringement. But do you know what it actually is? Sure, trademark infringement could be when another business uses the same name of your business. However, it is MUCH MORE than that!

Why You Shouldn’t Wait To Trademark Your Brand

There are countless reasons why you shouldn’t wait. I’ll be sharing 3 of those reasons with you in this post. On the other hand, there are reasons you may not want to file. This is a completely personal business decision, but I do highly suggest consulting with your trademark attorney to make the best determination for you. Making the wrong decision could cost you thousands of dollars, so it’s important to make the determination ASAP. 

What is Brand Protection?

With the evolution of the internet, new businesses are popping up every minute. Some of these businesses thrive on the infringement of other established brands. Brand protection is an all-encompassing program every business must implement in order to combat infringement. 

Should I Trademark Or Copyright My Logo?

If you’re a business owner, you may have heard that you need to trademark or copyright your logo. You also may be confused by both protections. Which does what? Do I really need it? How much is it? How will it protect me? I know, you have probably have a million questions. In this post, I will be answering which one you need for a logo and why.

Timeline Of A Trademark Application

The trademark process can widely vary, but you can count on a minimum of 6 months until receiving a registration. However, most applications take 9 months to a year to receive an official registration.

Sales Tax After Wayfair v. South Dakota

The days of only paying sales tax for purchases made the state you’re physically in are gone. With the Supreme Court decision of Wayfair v. South Dakota, states are now allowed to collect sales tax from companies that conduct a certain amount of business in the state. Find out whether you should be collecting sales tax from everyone.

Why Run An Official Name Search?

Your google search and trademark database search may not be enough. you could possibly save you and your business thousands of dollars by running an official name search as soon as possible.

How to Respond to a Trademark Office Action

If you’ve received an office action in response to your trademark application, you may start to stress. Don’t worry yet. You may still have a chance of getting approved. Learn how to complete your response, or schedule your free 15-minute consultation to determine your best course of action!

Copyright v. Trademark – What’s the Difference?

Although trademarks and copyrights are both a form of intellectual property, copyrights protect creative works and trademarks protect a company’s branding. Make sure you know what you’re wanting to file before wasting money on an application.

Benefits Of A Common Law Trademark

Whether you’re unable to afford the trademark process right now, or you just don’t want to go through the process, you may still have common law trademark rights. They’re not the same as having a registered trademark, but you do still have rights!

What Can Be Copyrighted

Fashion designers and boutique owners are often confused on what is and isn’t covered by Federal Copyright Law. This short post is meant to provide a basic overview of what is protected.

Why Should I Trademark?

Trademarks are becoming a necessary asset to almost every business today. If you’re on the fence about whether to file for a federal registration, read on about the main reasons why you should trademark.

Why Should I File For A Copyright ASAP?

There’s no question that you should file a copyright to protect your creations, but there are a few reasons why you should file as soon as you publish the work and not after someone infringes. Read on to find out why.