Is using a name for the business close but not completely similar to another business name considered a trademark infringement?

While I don't think the prior user's mark is very strong (with a geographic descriptor (i.e. place name) and a general descriptor), it probably...

Barbie (i.e., Mattel) has already gone after a satirist -- and lost, badly. It sued an artist in Utah who had created a series called "Food Chain...

You want to take a valuable property that belongs to someone else, and incorporate it into your own, without obtaining permission. Yes, that is...

Recruiting before forming the legal business entity.

Yes, there is a risk to the founder in hiring personnel before starting a corporation. Still, it is often necessary to recruit a good crew before...

Hiring someone from a competing company.

1. You are free to hire anyone who worked anywhere, as long as you comply with the law. In California, covenants not to compete are against public...

We need a cease and desist letter to be served to the company/persons infringing upon our intellectual property?

The Bay Area has many good lawyers who specialize in intellectual property. Use Avvo's "Find a Lawyer" at the top of the page to find a firm that's...

What can I do if I am laid off from position closure (not performance), but that position is really being given to someone else?

First, I assume that you do not have a contract. If you do, then both sides have to respect the terms of the contract. Without a contract, you are...

What code applies to notify court that plaintiff deceived the court, obtained ruling on motion that actually had no hearing date

You are basing your conclusion on the not-so "obvious[]" statement that the judge cannot grant a request for leave to amend. State judges know very...

We are a CA corporation. An ex employee has filed a lawsuit but hasn't served the company. What happens if we're not served?

The company needs to get ahold of the complaint to review it with counsel before taking the next steps. There are options available to address...

Do I have to shut down my 10-yr website, as someone is saying they've Trademarked (a portion) of my website domain name??

You need to consult with a lawyer with experience in trademark issues to work out what rights you have. You may have first use rights regarding the...