Legal

Legal Pitfalls

By: Jon L. Farnsworth / (01/26/2012)

United States Enacts Patent Reform

By: Kyle Peterson / (09/20/2011)

New Domain Name Rules Create Opportunities and Threats for Trademark Owners

By: Kyle T. Peterson / (08/15/2011)

Cabin Succession Planning: Using Technology to Build Consensus

By: Margaret A. T. Cronin / (01/4/2011)

For those of you who own vacation or secondary homes in Minnesota and Wisconsin, deciding whether, and how, to pass the family cabin to the next generation is a hot topic. Read more >>

Could Your Company Benefit from a General Counsel

By: Mike Auger / (12/30/2010)

As a company grows, the complexities of its business activities also begin to increase. Contract negotiations, mergers, acquisitions, compliance concerns and regulatory issues become necessary but complicated endeavors in a company's growth. As a result, it has become more common for mid-sized businesses to consider adding an "in-house" legal department or general counsel Read more >>

Global Brand Savvy

By: KYLE PETERSON / (11/26/2010)

The globalization of the business environment now requires companies to take steps to protect their goodwill in countries outside the United States. However, companies find that trademark protection often follows different principles in those countries, sometimes jeopardizing their investments if the proper steps are not taken with the utmost urgency. Read more >>

All-Weather ESOPs: Why ESOPs work in all economic climates

By: STEPHEN EIDE / (11/9/2010)

Every year, hundreds of small businesses bestow the title "owner" upon their workers by establishing an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) to purchase the company's shares. An ESOP is a retirement plan that is not only permitted to hold unlimited amounts of employer stock, but can also borrow money or issue a promissory note to purchase the stock. Read more >>

Even a Patent Can Be Decorative

By: PAUL C. ONDERICK / (11/2/2010)

“Whoever invents any new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture may obtain a patent therefor.” 35 U.S.C. § 171. If your company produces products that are unique in appearance, and your primary concern is the direct copying of those products by competitors, design patents are a useful tool for warding off (or punishing) copycats. Read more >>

The Nice Things Your Employees Are Saying Can Create Liability

By: Bryan Seiler / (10/30/2010)

Most businesses are extremely careful to avoid creating misleading or false advertising. But did you know your organization could be held liable for false and misleading advertising based on what employees are saying about you on social media sites? Read more >>

Antenuptials Support Future Business Health

By: Kathleen M. Picotte Newman / (10/7/2010)

Antenuptial or prenuptial agreements are commonly seen as a romance killer. What could be less romantic than planning for an ending that is not happily-ever-after? However, antenuptial agreements can instead be considered a step toward responsible financial business planning. Read more >>

Why Silence is Not Necessarily Golden

By: COLLIN FOULDS / (09/10/2010)

The importance of responding to negative posts on social media. Read more >>

Keeping IP Enforcement in Line

By: AARON DAVIS / (07/17/2010)

Intellectual property rights can be your business’s most valuable asset, but only if their utilization is in line with overall business goals. Understanding the vision of your business and how IP rights can best further that vision are the keys to successful IP management. Not all intellectual property is created equal. Read more >>