Can you use a different first name when marketing yourself or your business?

Generally, you are free to call yourself whatever you want. I do agree, however, that if your given name is John Smith and you are operating your...

I want to keep my local competitors from using certain verbage, so customers don't get confused.

My colleagues addressed your substantive concerns and I agree with their answers. We really could not say one way or the other without all the...

In general, using another's trademark descriptively in text as you note here would not be a problem, but of course it is also very ease to cross...

Does a DOT COM DOMAIN take trademark precedence over a DOT NET DOMAIN with the same name?

While I appreciate you question, it is ultimately a complete waste of your time to raise it here in the hypothetical. We would need to understand...

Received a letter from Johnson Pham that u.s. Customs and boarder seized a packaged with 33 units of insanity DVD. Why?

Sure, you know, just like anyone could have slipped those drugs into your glove compartment. I mean, when I want to import illegal knockoffs that...

I want to start a gift basket business. I want to use brand name items. How do I continue without being sued.

My colleagues offered great insights and I agree. In general, this is very common and will not pose an issue unless there is some confusion regards...

Does the market value of intellectual property gets put on the balance sheet or the cost to get it patented?

I read this as much more of a tax/accounting question that invokes other concerns. Was the IP purchased and was that purchase then expensed? Is...

Any creative content that is fixed in some expressive format will be covered under copyright protection. I'm sure you noticed that the emojis you...

Is having a business name that is similar to another copyright infringement?

So while this brand may not end up being an issue, there may be others out there that could very well be. So you should never just start spending...

When a new partnership or LLC forms and is required to publicize their business in newspapers, what information is required?

First, I would not be up at night worrying too much about this ridiculous and draconian publication requirement. But assuming you are ready to...