IP Mistakes Early-Stage Companies Make and How to Fix Them
Unsigned founder assignments, uncleared brand names, open-source contamination, and lapsed filings cost startups at the worst time. Here is how to catch each.
Tag: Intellectual Property
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What Makes a Trademark Strong Enough to Protect?
A strong trademark is one the USPTO will register and a court will enforce. The five levels of distinctiveness and why descriptive names cost more over time.
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Who Owns the IP Your Employees and Contractors Create?
Default ownership rules differ for copyrights, inventions, and trademarks. Here is who owns what without a signed agreement, and how to close the gaps.
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Does Registering a Business Name Protect It as a Trademark?
No. Forming an LLC, filing a DBA or buying a domain reserves a name for one narrow purpose. Trademark rights come from use and a USPTO filing, not the state.
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How to Conduct an IP Audit of Your Business
An IP audit lists what your company owns, confirms who actually holds title, and flags deadlines and gaps before an investor, buyer or infringer finds them.
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Can You Legally Protect a Business Idea?
U.S. law does not protect an idea by itself. It protects the expression, the brand, the secret, and the invention built on it. Here is how each layer works.