When you own a Florida business and your business produces something novel, you may wish to protect it to maintain your competitive edge and prevent others from using or producing the same product or technology. Trademarks, patents and copyrights are all forms of legal protection that give artists, inventors, business owners and many others a legal leg to stand on should someone try to use the protected material. However, there are some important differences that exist among the three. According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, while trademarks, patents and copyrights are all types of ..read more

If you are struggling to make ends meet nowadays, you certainly are not alone. In fact, according to reporting from CNBC, roughly 77% of Americans indicate they are anxious about their financial situation. While many factors contribute to financial insecurity, having too much debt can be problematic. Your debt-to-income ratio compares how much revolving debt you have relative to your monthly income. Regularly calculating your debt-to-income ratio is a good way to measure your overall financial health. How do you do the math? Fortunately, you do not need an advanced degree in mathematics to cal ..read more

Trade dress is a subcategory of trademark rights. Both trademark and trade dress are types of intellectual property that identify a service or product and distinguish it from others. Trade dress infringement happens when one company uses trade dress that is close enough to another’s that it causes confusion in the minds of buyers. In order to show that infringement occurs, the plaintiff needs to prove certain elements. Trade dress definition According to FindLaw, trade dress refers to the visual appearance and characteristics of a product, such as the color, shape, size, graphics, texture and ..read more

You may require your employees to sign a non-compete agreement to prevent them from working with your competitors or using your trade secrets to start a competitive business. However, the enforceability of a Florida non-compete depends on the terms it includes. Your non-compete should address the following areas and include reasonable restrictions. Type of industry A non-compete should only restrict former employees from working for businesses that directly compete with your company. Although it is unnecessary to name specific companies, you should list the industries that provide your competi ..read more

Bankruptcy and Insolvency attorney David Blansky has joined Dunn Law, P.A. as a Senior Attorney. He focuses his practice on insolvency with an emphasis on bankruptcy and commercial litigation and regularly represents trustees, fiduciaries, creditors and debtors. He also handles a wide variety of commercial contract disputes and business litigation. David started his career as a prosecutor, subsequently transferring his skills as a trial lawyer to civil disputes. Prior to joining the firm, David was a partner with a boutique bankruptcy and litigation law firm in Long Island, NY. David is admitt ..read more

It can be risky to choose a business structure, such as a sole proprietorship or a general partnership, that does not offer limited liability. Without it, you may have to use personal assets to pay off business debts. Corporations and limited liability companies are two business structures that provide limited liability. The U.S. Small Business Association describes the differences between the two so you can choose one that is most appropriate for your company. Corporation Incorporating a business makes it a separate legal entity from its owner(s). If you own a corporation, its separate legal ..read more

When going into a new partnership or a new business endeavor with someone else, the last thing you want to do is consider what actions to take in the event of a dispute. However, disputes are an inevitable part of any business path, especially with people who work with unknown factors like other companies or individuals. So how do you deal with them when you come across them? Arbitration and mediation FINRA talks about mediation and arbitration. These are two of the most popular methods of resolving disputes that manage to stay out of the court system. They are prized for that reason, as they ..read more

When you own a Florida business and your business produces something novel, you may wish to protect it to maintain your competitive edge and prevent others from using or producing the same product or technology. Trademarks, patents and copyrights are all forms of legal protection that give artists, inventors, business owners and many others a legal leg to stand on should someone try to use the protected material. However, there are some important differences that exist among the three. According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, while trademarks, patents and copyrights are all types of ..read more

As you probably know, it can be difficult to succeed in business without some financial help. Whether you need to pay for equipment, salaries, rent or something else, you may need a loan or financing. Even though defaulting can hurt your company, you may have little or no choice in this tough economy. According to LinkedIn, more than 90% of small- and medium-sized businesses use social media to attract new customers and retain existing ones. If yours is one of them, you want your social media presence to reflect positively on your company. Creditors and social media Having your creditors post ..read more

If you are struggling to make ends meet nowadays, you certainly are not alone. In fact, according to reporting from CNBC, roughly 77% of Americans indicate they are anxious about their financial situation. While many factors contribute to financial insecurity, having too much debt can be problematic. Your debt-to-income ratio compares how much revolving debt you have relative to your monthly income. Regularly calculating your debt-to-income ratio is a good way to measure your overall financial health. How do you do the math? Fortunately, you do not need an advanced degree in mathematics to cal ..read more