Author Archives: Jean Niehues

How is intellectual property defined? Intellectual property (IP) pertains to things you create with your mind, not the ideas themselves, but the expression of the ideas in some form. An idea all by itself in your head, is not IP. If you created something original, you may have a certain degree of protection against someoneContinue reading “What Does Intellectual Property Mean for Small Business?”

Intellectual property (IP) theft is a rampant issue that affects all companies conducting business overseas. Although you can obtain IP protection outside the US, business owners should always be on the lookout to ensure no one is using their brands or products without proper permission. Infringers often take advantage of the vulnerability and lack ofContinue reading “If My Intellectual Property Is Stolen Overseas, What Happens Next?”

For many young people, video games were a huge part of their formative years, and continue to be a hobby in their adult lives. While the more curmudgeonly can debate the merits of kids spending hours on video games, it’s hard to deny how much fun they can be. What started for most of usContinue reading “A Video Game Trademark Snafu”

Well, what do you think?! After much hard work and lots of Traker teamwork, we did it! We’ve been talking about this website update for a while: streamlining our message for customers, clarifying how our products can help, and for the girly-ness in me, just making it pretty (you know, with one of those infinitely-scrolling,Continue reading “Announcing Traklight’s Updated Website + New Brand”

As we start 2015, this the final of three posts (read Part 2 here) on the worst mistakes I have seen made in 2014.  Of course there is the usual tie to intellectual property (IP) and money or valuation of the venture. Misunderstanding and waiting on patents Does this sound familiar: “Get that minimum viableContinue reading “Worst IP Mistakes in 2014, Part 3”

Over the holidays, I decided to take some time off to spend with family and relax.  No planned Traklight work and I definitely did not have any intellectual property (IP) thoughts on my mind. Or so I thought…

For as much fun as college can be, one of the least pleasant aspects of attending university is purchasing textbooks. As a student, you have the distinct privilege of paying hundreds of dollars for books that you’ll only use for a brief period, *cough* if at all *cough*. And while yours truly was unlucky enoughContinue reading “Is This Browser Extension Violating Copyright?”

This is the second of three posts (read Part 1 here) on the Worst IP Mistakes made in 2014 by some companies we spoke with last year. I have written on this before but multiple questions about using open source code keep coming up with clients and in presentation question and answer. A couple of conceptsContinue reading “Worst IP Mistakes in 2014, Part 2”

This guest blog is by Deborah Sweeney, the CEO of MyCorporation.com. MyCorporation is a leader in online legal filing services for entrepreneurs and businesses, providing startup bundles that include corporation and LLC formation, registered agent, DBA, and trademark & copyright filing services. MyCorporation does all the work, making the business formation and maintenance quick andContinue reading “9 Differences Between DBA Names and Trademarks”

To say that entrepreneurs work hard on their business is an understatement. They pour untold hours into their work, whether it’s getting their venture off the ground or reaching for that next rung on the ladder of success. It would be fair to say that for most, it is their life’s passion. Given that levelContinue reading “A True Crowdfunder’s Nightmare: The Importance of Safe Crowdfunding”