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Many small business owners are tempted to classify workers as independent contractors rather than employees. They see it as a way to avoid payroll taxes, benefits, overtime pay, and the hassle of tracking hours. However, taking this shortcut can be a costly mistake,...

One of the bigger issues that our clients grapple with is understanding Specimens of Use which must be provided to the Trademark Office for both Actual Use and Intent to Use Applications. As defined: A service mark specimen must show the mark as actually used in the...

Preamble: Some of this blog post was written by an AI application. The fact is that many businesses are leaning more and more on automation. I wrote this post to highlight how AI can help make things more efficient. My prompts to write this blog post using AI were:...

We have noticed an uptick in the number of emails clients send to us, which are Spam, Scams or Misleading. They are rightfully concerned that these notices are real or that they are about to lose trademark rights or have missed a deadline. At no cost to you, we will...

Preparing Your Small Business for Sale: Legal Documents Every San Diego Owner Needs Selling a small business in San Diego requires more than just finding the right buyer—it's about ensuring your business is legally ready for a smooth transition. Before listing your...

We’ve all heard any number of “Urban Myths”, such as there are alligators living in the sewers in New York City and Little Mikey from the “Life” cereal commercial died because he mixed Coca-Cola with pop rocks. There are plenty of widely-held general legal myths too:...

Myth #1: “I don't need to register my work with the Copyright Office; all I need to do mail it by myself.” Reality: No, mailing your work to yourself has no legal effect at all. The copyright law in the US is very clear that in order to sue someone in court for...

INTRODUCTION Every business, regardless of size, is vulnerable to common legal pitfalls that can lead to unnecessary liability and financial loss. Drawing on over 140 years of collective legal experience, Branfman Mayfield Bustarde Reichenthal LLP offers 10 tips to...

The Impact of California Civil Code Section 1717 Businesses often include attorney’s fees provisions in their contracts to protect themselves in case of litigation. However, companies operating in California should carefully consider whether these provisions are in...

Dear Clients, we wanted to inform you of the following: On January 18, 2025 the USPTO adjusted several trademark fees and discontinued certain application filing options. A few of the more notable new and increased fees are directed to new applications and...