PTO Shortens Time of First OA

On Thursday, June 4, 2009 the USPTO reduced its goal for “trademark pendency” to two months. “TM Pendency” determines how large of an inventory of unprocessed applications the USPTO should keep at any given time. The time frame discussed in relation to pendency is the time that it takes the PTO to issue a First…

2009 LOHAS Forum

On Thursday, June 4, 2009 the USPTO reduced its goal for “trademark pendency” to two months. “TM Pendency” determines how large of an inventory of unprocessed applications the USPTO should keep at any given time. The time frame discussed in relation to pendency is the time that it takes the PTO to issue a First…

Kraft’s Advice to Law Firms

What does the General Counsel of a Fortune 100 company want from a law firm?  In the case of one former GC – Theodore Banks of Kraft Foods – the answer is printed in black and white.  The ABA’s 2004 publication, “Marketing Success Stories” edited by Weishar and Smiley begins with an essay by Mr.…

How to Maintain Corporations and LLCs

Forming an LLC or a corporation is an important first step to achieving tax benefits and protection from liability.  In order to preserve these important benefits, however,  it is very important that your company is maintained properly. Otherwise, you run the risk that the separate nature of your company will be ignored by the IRS…

One Tribe Creative mktg tips from BALLE Conference

I am in Denver, Colorado for the 7th Annual (yet my first) BALLE Conference. BALLE is the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies. BALLE’s Mission is to build Local Living Economies in North America that foster vibrant communities, a healthy natural environment, and prosperity for all. This is done through: Catalyzing, strengthening, and connecting networks of…

Tenants Beware!

Investors and analysts complain that it is difficult to compare the financial positions of two entities with similar leases because financial statements often do not clearly show the effects of operating leases.  They claim that tenants under operating leases get a source of unrecognized financing. A 2005 Security and Exchange Commission report criticized the accounting…

The Criteria for Being Classified as an S-Corporation

In order to be classified as an S-Corporation, a company must: be domestic, have no more than 100 shareholders, have one class of stock, all shareholders must be individuals, decedents’ estates, bankruptcy estates, trusts or tax-exempt charitable organizations, or wholly owned by another S corporation, and all shareholders must be residents of the United States…