When business owners think about legal risk, they often think about big events: lawsuits, ownership disputes, business sales, or regulatory investigations. The irony is that the legal issues that tend to create the greatest disruption begin long before any of those big events. This post is the first in a three-part series based on a … Read more
For this week’s blog post, I am highlighting a yearly legal conference for Wisconsin Lawyers to engage in a multi-day event offering breakout sessions, dine-arounds, plenaries, and networking opportunities, with options for both in-person attendance and virtual participation: The Wisconsin Solo and Small Firm Conference. The State Bar of Wisconsin’s WSSFC provides opportunities to earn … Read more
Disclaimer: This post is not legal advice (or about the law, at all) and originally appeared on our blog in 2019. Happy (almost) Halloween everyone! Halloween is my favorite holiday, and for the last 25 years or so, I’ve marked it with an annual showcase of the timeless classic, “Garfield’s Halloween Adventure” or “Garfield in … Read more
Generally, if you made it, you own the copyright – even if you don’t own the physical thing itself. The authors of the work are the default owners in a work. That means that I can pay you to paint a wonderful portrait of my dog being queen of the neighborhood. I own the painting, … Read more
Imagine you find the perfect business to buy. The owner is approaching retirement after a long and successful career. The company has a strong reputation in the market. Revenue appears healthy. Employees seem happy and experienced. After some promising conversations, you and the seller strike a deal and work toward closing. At this point, most … Read more
What is a trademark specimen? A specimen is an example of use of the trademark in commerce in connection with the goods or services identified in the trademark application. More simply, it shows what consumers encounter when they consider purchasing those goods or services. An acceptable specimen differs by whether you are offering goods or … Read more
One of the more annoying parts of hiring a lawyer is that we tend to respond to perfectly good and reasonable questions with more questions. A client asks whether they can sign a contract, bring in a new partner, buy a business, or hire an intern. Usually, I need to know a little more before … Read more
U.S. copyright law protects works created by humans. The Copyright Office will not register content produced entirely by a non-human source. Courts have applied this rule to works attributed to animals, supernatural beings, and natural forces. Not monkeys, not oceans, not even “celestial beings” can own a US copyright. Courts found Naruto the monkey couldn’t … Read more
Over the last year or so, two points of federal cannabis reform have been in the news: (1) shifts in Congressional policy around the federal treatment of hemp (see Collin’s earlier post here for more) and (2) the Executive Branch effort to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act … Read more
Today, we’re taking a cue from one of our favorite coworkers: rest is important, too. Whether you’re spending the day with family, enjoying the last bits of summer, or simply catching up on some well-deserved downtime, we hope your Labor Day includes a little relaxation. From all of us at Ogden Glazer + Schaefer, Happy … Read more