We here have often cited trade secrets as the “unsung heroes” of the intellectual property world. Trade secrets don’t get the same attention or coverage as patents, trademarks, or copyrights. Much of that certainly has to do with the secret part of that – after all, it’s difficult to praise and appreciate something that we don’t know about with any degree of specificity. We know that Coca-Cola does something that makes their drink so popular, but because we can’t say what exactly that is, we chalk it up to an ineffable quality that we’ll never know. But just because trade secrets are an unknown quantity doesn’t make them any less important to businesses of all sizes. And a recent Senate bill may help those businesses keep those trade secrets safe.
Continue reading “Subcommittee Sends Trade Secrets Bill to Senate Floor”
I’ve looked at start-ups from both sides now: initially as a lawyer for venture capitalists and other investors, and now as the CEO of my own legal-tech start-up.
The legal tech field can be a tough one. and one of the most challenging aspects is fundraising. Finding investors who understand what you do can be difficult. Our recent “Investment in Legal Tech” event brought together an enthusiastic panel to try and shed light on this issue.
No small or medium-sized business owner ever got up and said, “Today is the day that I am going to identify my risks and do an inventory of my intellectual property to maximize my value.” It takes an event – a visit to a lawyer, a plan to fund retirement by selling your business, or at worse, a cease and desist letter.
It’s a widely-held belief that small businesses are the main driver of the US economy. Small businesses have a greater ability to create new jobs than middle and large-sized companies. So what is keeping them from protecting their intellectual property? While the federal government has implemented a number of measures to assist aspiring entrepreneurs to start their own business, it hasn’t done enough to educate them on the importance of intellectual property (IP) protection or the value of intangible assets. Below are a few IP-related challenges that US small businesses face today.
Our most recent event was also the first in what is partially the hometown of Evolve Law. Our February 18 event “Legal Innovation: trends & Ethics from Different Perspectives” was hosted by Evolve Law members Ipro Tech in Phoenix. The evening’s panel was moderated by Kim Taylor, CEO and President of Ipro Tech, and featured Josh King, General Counsel at Avvo; Maria Speth, Shareholder at Jaburg Wilk; Marc Chelsey, CEO of BMD Advisers; and Tighe Wilhelmy, VP Business Development at Local Lawyer Guide.
In the modern age, Google has become the repository of almost all knowledge. There’s hardly a fact or story or video that can’t be tracked down with the right search. Given how much is online these days, it comes as no surprise that Google and other content hosts have to deal with copyright issues. But recent reports on the number of complaints is both shocking and concerning. 
Ahead of what is sure to be a profitable weekend for DC Comics, the comic book titans have also managed to steer clear of another court case involving Batman’s iconic transport.