If you have been through the drawn-out process of registering a trademark, you realize it is not a quick and easy process.  Between backlog at the USPTO, office actions from Examiners, and oppositions from the public, there are many hoops to clear before registration.  But did you know that a mark owner’s responsibilities do not end there?  A mark often becomes the most valuable association with a brand.  The tips below will help mark holders ensure the time, energy, and money put into their mark and brand will be protectable and valuable for years to come.
Continue reading “Adding Brand Value through Protecting Trademarks” »

James Creekmore once again has been voted to the list of Virginia “Super Lawyers” in the field of Intellectual Property Litigation. Andrew Connors also has been selected again as one of Virginia’s “Rising Stars” in the field of Business Litigation in this year’s Annual List of Virginia Super Lawyers. See the entire list.

Attorneys are selected through a patented multiphase selection process including peer nominations, independent research and peer evaluations.

Starting up takes a lot.  A lot of time. A lot of energy. Perhaps a lot of money.  And definitely a lot of planning.  At the very beginning, a business owner is looking for revenue, low costs, and maximum upside, in an understandable effort to build a foundation for an economically sustainable enterprise. Having an economically sustainable enterprise–especially one that may eventually be sold–requires sufficient planning to document the assets of the firm and to ensure the firm legally owns those assets.  With assets often come certain liabilities, completing the picture and value proposition of the business for owners, investors, and potential purchasers.  As tempting as it can be to pass on early legal planning for a business in light of other demands that feel more immediate, that planning will show its value for a business of any size or type when avoiding headaches, heading off informal disputes and even full-on litigation.  Learn the core legal considerations for a business in its inception stages, along with the pitfalls you can plan around as you build your business.

Continue reading “What Makes Up Your Business?” »

Business competition is the name of the game.  One industry in particular, however, is taking the term “friendly competition” to heart.

Collaborative brewing, in which two or more breweries join forces to create a [new] product, has rapidly swept through the craft brewing industry. While brewery rivalries certainly exist, many brewers have discovered the benefits of teaming up.  It allows brewers to expand their horizons, creating beers outside of brewers’ comfort zones.  Breweries gain exposure to new markets and gain credibility.  Consumers, on the other hand, relish the typically unconventional brews resulting from the pairing. Sometimes it even helps avoid legal battles, such as the case of Avery Brewery and Russian River Brewery’s “Collaboration Not Litigation” ale. Continue reading “Think Before You Brew” »