Big announcement! The United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO“) will begin issuing electronic registration certificates for all trademark applications filed from today onward. What does this mean for you?: If you apply for a new trademark, the USPTO will provide your registration certificate digitally, rather than on paper, when the mark registers. However, if … Read more
I recently read an article about the “Milk Carton Rule.” The story goes that if a person keeps leaving a bottle of milk out, stop expecting them to do otherwise. Once you do that, you will “solve the real problem” and buy a second bottle of milk so you always have non-spoiled milk. The article … Read more
Who has time to read those pesky terms and conditions anyway? As it turns out…they are worth paying attention to, particularly if you are in a position to be writing them or using them on a website. If you are a new business owner starting up a website, terms and conditions should matter to you. … Read more
Welcome back to our discussion on 501(c)(3)’s, inurement, and excess benefit transactions! If you missed the last post that provided an overview of the rules related to this topic, you can find the link to the previous post here. Now that the overview is out of the way, here are some ideas on how to … Read more
Non-profit organizations, by their nature, provide great value through their missions and services. That is at least part of the reason why they typically receive tax-exempt status, including under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). However, that tax-exempt status is fragile and contingent on meeting and maintaining certain requirements, and an organization can … Read more
We’d like to wish a Happy Easter and a Happy Passover to all those who were celebrating over the weekend. Are you hoping Spring is just around the corner like Lola is?
I’m sure you’ve heard the news – the House of Representatives passed the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act on Friday April 1, 2022. The bill, if enacted, would remove marijuana (delta-9 THC) from the controlled substances list, impose a 5% tax on the sale of marijuana products nationwide, and provide mechanisms for the expungement of previous … Read more
Last week I talked about how clients say they don’t know the difference between trademarks and copyrights. Then I didn’t explain what it was. I am here to solve that issue. A trademark is something that customers use to help with things like: “Hey, I bought that thingy before, and I liked it. I want … Read more
At the first meeting with a potential client, they often (somewhat shamefacedly) say, “I’m not really sure if I need a trademark or copyright or something else. I guess that I don’t know the difference.” They say it like of course, they should know the difference. Why wouldn’t they know? I mean everyone but them … Read more
Richard is joining OG+S as a Paralegal focused on IP Docket management and related activities while he completes his coursework at Madison College, Madison, WI. Prior to pursuing a career as a Paralegal, Richard gained valuable experiences as a technology practitioner in the financial services and consumer product good industries. He has worked in the … Read more