Common Law Trademark Rights in the United States
Using a business name, logo, slogan, or other brand identifier can create trademark rights even when nothing has been filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. These common law …
How to Patent an Invention in the U.S.: A Practical Guide
Turning an idea into a U.S. patent application is less about having a “great idea” and more about documenting a specific invention, understanding what may be patentable, and filing a …
Probate Without a Will: What Happens When Someone Dies Intestate
When someone dies without a valid will, the estate does not simply pass to the nearest relative automatically. Instead, state law supplies the missing instructions. The court may need to …
Irrevocable Trust: How It Works and Key Tradeoffs
An irrevocable trust is built around a simple but consequential idea: once assets are transferred under the trust’s terms, the person who created the trust usually gives up the broad …
Whistleblower Protections for Employees Who Report Wrongdoing
Reporting serious wrongdoing at work can put an employee in a difficult position: speak up and risk backlash, or stay silent and allow a problem to continue. Whistleblower protections are …