Author Archives: L.A. Perkins
What is the Difference Between a Trademark and a Copyright?
If you have your own business that you want to protect or if you recently produced a piece of work that you want to ensure others do not unfairly profit from, you might be considering whether a trademark or copyright is appropriate for your needs. First, it is important to know that trademarks and… Read More »
A Trademark Battle With Oprah Winfrey
Recently, Oprah Winfrey won a 5 year trademark battle over the use of the slogan “own your power.” In 2011, Simone Kelly-Brown, a life coach, sued Ms. Winfrey for using “own your power” on the cover of O, Oprah Winfrey’s magazine, claiming she trademarked the phrase in 1996. In this case, the trademark suit… Read More »
Supreme Court Ruling On First Sale Doctrine Provides Business Opportunity
On March 19, 2013, the United States Supreme Court in Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 568 U.S.____(2013), addressed the question of whether the “first sale” doctrine applies to goods manufactured and sold abroad. In Kirtsaeng, a student from Thailand studying in the United States asked his friends and family back home in… Read More »
Employers Must Use New I-9 Form
On March 8, 2013, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services published a new I-9 Form for immediate use by employers. Form I-9 is used to verify the identity of the employee and that the individual is authorized for employment in the United States. Employers must keep a completed Form I-9 on file for each… Read More »