Intellectual Property Archives - Hackstaff, Snow, Atkinson & Griess, LLC

Intellectual Property

Copyrights & Trademarks 101: What is Protected and Where?

The terms “copyright” and “trademark” are thrown around a lot when people talk about intellectual property protections, but many people either get them confused or don’t have a full understanding of what their protections entail. Both are distinct forms of intellectual property protection, and protect very specific, and different, things. In this copyrights & trademarks […]

In 1970, when Congress passed the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), most Americans were familiar with the famous movie mobster Rico Bandello from the film Little Caesar, one of the first “talkies” ever made.   The Act was cleverly named after the mobster and was initially used to weaken the Gambino crime family. In […]

Small and medium-sized businesses make up the majority of companies in America today. Their work is critical to the economy, but they often lack the means—including the time, resources, and knowledge—to protect it.  If you’re a small business leader, it’s critical not to overlook your business’s intellectual property (IP). Your business needs to protect its […]

If you own your business, you’re probably used to doing many projects by yourself. While this can save time and money, not everything should be a DIY endeavor, including contracts. The success and well-being of your company depend upon the strength of its contracts. Since contracts can be very complex and must take into account […]

Mergers and acquisitions are among the most complicated endeavors your business may be involved in. There are many reasons for this, including that you must determine the right deal structure and purchase agreement terms. The right structure and terms for your company will depend on your goals, how your company is structured, and how you want to manage […]

Mergers and acquisitions are a complex area of business and business law. As such, due diligence is of utmost importance in these transactions. Inadvertent or simple mistakes, issues, or miscommunications during the M&A process could make the entire sale go bad. You can help avoid this in your company’s M&A by preparing for due diligence and enlisting the […]

Maybe you are thinking about selling your company but aren’t ready to list it just yet. It’s crucial to note that you can significantly increase its value and the market demand in your industry by looking at it strategically.   Closing and selling a business should be a planned event whenever possible. Ideally, it would help if you could start planning the sale of your business about five years out. Planning gives you a leadership role, […]

Selling your business is a significant decision. If you decide to take this step, you want the transaction to go off without a hitch. Without planning and arming yourself with knowledge, there are bound to be some bumps in the road that could compromise a smooth and profitable process. Here are the top mistakes the business owners […]

Working remotely, the gig economy, and contract work is increasing exponentially. Companies from many different business sectors are all filling in labor gaps with gig or contract workers. Many of them perform their contracted duties remotely. While this is convenient for both the company and the contractor, it opens the door to many business risks.  One of the most […]

Foundations The first thing to realize about intellectual property law is that it is mostly a fabrication.  It is a bundle of legal rights regarding intangible property.  Intangible property is property that derives value from what is represented rather than an intrinsic physical nature.  See “property” at Dictionary.com.  In addition to this, intellectual property relates […]