In recent years, crowdsourcing has become an accepted approach for leveraging the “wisdom of the crowd”. Perhaps one of the best examples of crowdsourcing is Wikipedia. Traditional encyclopedia companies used to employ hundreds of people to research a vast range of topics. Wikipedia has managed to put together a much larger online encyclopedia by harnessing the power of crowdsourcing. In Wikipedia’s case, this Read More

Historically, behind every successful entertainer was a good entertainment lawyer. Composers, recording artists, actors, performers - just about anyone who was creative and successful - typically had an association with an experienced entertainment lawyer. The role of entertainment lawyers has changed over the years, but they still play an important role in the long-term success of entertainers.  Here are some of the Read More

Our website analytics tell us this is one of our most popular articles. If you think we might be able to help you or your business, email info@clark.law and mention this article for a complimentary 30-minute consultation. You have likely seen thousands of copyright notices on printed publications, websites, TV shows, and movies. Have you wondered why they are used and what they mean? And more importantly, if you Read More

If patent infringement can be proven, the damages that can flow to the wronged party are varied and nuanced. Given the high stakes in patent litigation, both in the amounts spent by the parties in litigating the action and the investment of the original party in developing the patent, it’s not surprising that the damages available in these lawsuits may be considerable. Profits Lost: One commonly sought form of Read More

Patented inventions are all around us: in the computers we use, the cars we drive—even your drinkware may be patented. Wherever you are reading this, it is likely you can look around and spot dozens of items that are covered by one or more patents. What is a patent? The US Constitution tells us that a patent is the right of an inventor to the exclusive benefits of their invention for a limited time. From such a Read More

Our website analytics tell us this is one of our most popular articles. If you think we might be able to help you or your business, email info@clark.law and mention this article for a complimentary 30-minute consultation. A popular way to monetize trademarks is to license their use to others. For example, franchises work this way by granting the franchisee the license to use the marks of the brand owner in the Read More

Our website analytics tell us this is one of our most popular articles. If you think we might be able to help you or your business, email info@clark.law and mention this article for a complimentary 30-minute consultation. There are many articles and discussions written on the material that copyright law protects, but an often overlooked topic in the discussion is what a copyright does NOT protect. The answers are Read More

Trademark attorneys are increasingly topping the list of attorneys that businesses seek to retain on a long-term or ongoing basis. One reason for this the duration of the trademark registration process. Registering a trademark takes at best nine months, and that’s only if there are no refusals or oppositions or office actions from the Trademark Office. Another perhaps more important reason is that forward-thinking Read More

I am frequently asked how much an individual’s net worth needs to be in order for them to be a good candidate for asset protection planning.  It’s impossible to answer with a specific dollar value, but if you are concerned that an adverse court judgment against you might wipe out your way of life, the answer may be an asset protection plan. What Is an Asset Protection Plan? The best place to start is by Read More

A buy-sell agreement is a contract (or sometimes part of a contract) in which a business owner makes an agreement with the other co-owner or owners as to what happens to their share of the business upon the occurrence of certain “triggering events” such as death, incapacitation, divorce, bankruptcy, or retirement. In some ways it is similar to a will in that it is a legal agreement that governs the disposition of Read More