Understanding Social Media App Patent Processes I am creating a social media app. Do I have to patent the process of what the app does? To avoid copycat versions? Or do I have to launch and create a big network effect? I am not creating any new software or technology, but the way the process…
Now, in Georgia and a growing number of states, so long as a company is planning to keep a securities offering local (with all investors –both accredited and non-accredited – coming from the same state in which the company is formed), a company can freely pitch an investment offering to anyone, as long as the…
In the last few years, two important shifts have happened in the local and national securities space that make it easier for companies to take part in pitch events without fear. The one that has garnered the most attention operates at the federal level. The JOBS Act, passed on April 5, 2012, has now made it…
For almost 100 years, companies seeking investors have had to be very careful not to “advertise” an offering – or else risk attracting the ire of federal regulators. To be specific, federal law requires all sales of securities to be either registered with the SEC (aka, “publicly traded” like Apple or Facebook) or else qualify…
In the US, provisional patent applications are kept as confidential documents, away from public availability. There is no publically accessible database in which you can search or verify provisional patent filings. This is to protect and preserve your rights while your product is still in the beta/development phase. It also allows you to let the…
One of the early defining moments in the life of a startup is choosing a name. It’s generally the first thing the public knows about you – your first business “pitch” when you really think about it. And it serves as the centerpiece of your brand, so it’s important that you select something that you’re…
Can you be your own lawyer? Yes. Maybe. No. Sort of. In truth, it really depends on the situation. For the easy stuff? Sure. For the more difficult things? Probably not. The big problem is how do you know what is DIY-friendly and what isn’t? A good comparison that I like to use is this:…
New and Evolving Area of Securities Law: Quasi-Public Offerings THE RISE OF “QUASI-PUBLIC OFFERINGS” REFLECTIONS FROM THE NASAA CONFERENCE As I prepare to deliver remarks at the NASAA Corporation Finance Training Conference in St. Louis this weekend, it has provided a cause for reflection on over three years marking the rise of what I would…
How To Protect Intellectual Property When Building A Team “By ourselves, we can move quickly. Together, we can go far.” An old African proverb that came to mind when writing on this topic. Ideas aren’t meant to be confined to a single mind. They’re meant to be shared and formed into a common vision. I’ve seen…
When using a recording of a concert, there are actually several copyrights at play. Copyright law is interesting, so bare with me. First, there is the copyright that belongs to the composer of the music. This copyright covers the “musical composition” – think of it as the ‘musical notes on a piece of paper.” No…
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