Browsing Category: "Entreprenuers"
This is all from my “patent, trademarks, and copyrights” file. It’s just a dump of the word document so excuse the poor formatting, which I have also uploaded to be downloaded for free here in a convenient word document. (Right click > save as)
Information on Patents, copyrights and trademarks
All of the following data was copied directly from websites. To get to the website click on the link that follows each section.
For information from the US Government on Patents and Trademarks use this link:
Free trademark search at:
http://www.nameprotect.com/cgi-bin/FREESearch/search.cgi
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Do I Need a Trademark? |
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Trademark Basics Information about what can be protected as a trademark, and other basic information about trademarks is available on our Trademarks section page.. About Federal Registration Marks can become powerful symbols of products and services in the marketplace that help businesses create branding strategies that establish consumer loyalty, deter competition, and make money for the owner of the mark. Whether you are implementing a marketing plan or working to develop one, the success of that plan may ultimately depend on the steps you take now to research and federally register your marks. Use-Based and Intent-to-Use Applications Under the current national system, a mark already used in interstate commerce can be registered, and a mark that is intended to be used in interstate commerce can be the subject of a intent-to-use application, which in effect, allows the applicant to reserve rights in a mark nationally from the filng date to as long as 3 years from the date the application is approved for registration. Benefits of Federal Registration Specific benefits of having a federally registered trademark include: constructive notice nationwide of the trademark owner’s claim; evidence of ownership of the trademark; the jurisdiction of federal courts may be invoked for infringement disputes; registration can be used as a basis for obtaining registration in foreign countries; and registration may be filed with the U.S. Customs Service to prevent importation of infringing foreign goods. Establishing Nationwide Priority Federal registration will protect your business goodwill in your marks and enable you to maintain an exclusive position in the marketplace for your product or service. You can obtain nationwide priority with your marks and block others from registering confusingly similar ones. You can establish national rights by using and seeking to register a mark, or you can reserve it nationwide by filing a federal application stating that you intend to use the mark. The Biggest Mistake The single biggest mistake we have seen over the years is when a mark is selected, adopted, used, and promoted without the benefit of a professional search. Then a cease and desist letter is received or a lawsuit is filed. If it turns out that someone else has rights in your mark, your investment of time and money, as well as the goodwill associated with the mark, can be totally lost. You could also be held liable for monetary damages, loss of sales, and legal fees. Clearly, it is better to check out a mark prior to adoption and use, and to avoid the risk that you will lose potential rights by filing an intent-to-use application before the mark is publicly exposed. |
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I have told you before how great a resource SCORE is, if you did not believe me then, read this article! Everyone has uses for SCORE and it truly is FREE HELP. When is anything ever truly free? SCORE is definitely the premier source you should be using while writing your business plan.
NYTimes.com - Starting a Small Business? A Retired Executive Wants to Help.
SCORE - Counselors to America’s Small Business
I was introduced to SCORE about two years ago, when working at a small business resource lab (think tank, incubator, whatever you want to call it). What SCORE does is offer free services to smal businesses and entrepreneurs. It is a great resource and should be used when writing your business plan. SCORE is mostly retired executives, lawyers, and entrepreneurs that have been through the ropes and learned a thing or two.
If you want to read more about SCORE, just visit the website.
There are a few avenues you can go through to get assistance with your business plan or other business or legal matters.
First you can search for help. This is broken down by a basic keyword search, expertise search, or by state if you want local help. Expertise search will probably be your best bet if you have an industry specific question. Once you are at the expertise search screen, this is mostly self explanatory. However, there are a few industry listings that are not there. Photography for example is not listed under photography or commercial photography. That is something I would lump under Art and you’ll find that that is where most photographers or related fields are residing. Just select your expertise and hit submit to get a listing of counselors you can contact. By clicking on the persons name you wish to contact it will bring you to a form you can fill it to contact via email with them.
Another way to get help from SCORE counselors for your business plan is to lookup your local chapter. You can do so from the main SCORE website or by the Find SCORE page. My search sends me over to SCORE Baltimore.
Once there a “Counseling” link should be somewhere, you can click that and register to schedule a request for counseling.
Most SCORE chapters have workshops or seminars that can also be of help. Generally cheap to attend. SCORE baltimore is 40.00 for their workshop which is a full work day long and includes a “manual.” This could be an avenue you could explore, I know in my chapter if you view the workshop page they recommend you have a business plan ready before attending, that way you can get better use of the workshop through questions and review.
I suggest atleast exploring the SCORE website, there is a lot of information and avenues to contact them. A lot of people (myself included) think SCORE is a great thing and rave about it. I have received quite a bit of in-depth help from SCORE counselors, so I know how much of a value they can be.
Yesterday, I wrote a post titled “Sleeping with the enemy.” In the post I talked about your competitor being a great resource for information when writing your business plan. Here are a few ways to approach said competitor in getting that information. Some of these certainly depend on the competitor and industry, but for the most part I think these are good for the small business arena where the owner is an approachable and reachable person. If you are trying to approach Bill Gates, then well… I have no help for you. Maybe try getting through the angry gorilla that is Steve Ballmer first. Anyway, onto the ways to approach your competitor for business plan help:
- Research them enough to know the owners other work, their hobbies, music tastes, whatever. You’ll find small business CEO bios to be loaded with misc junk that a customer does not really care about. Then write them a personable email to get your foot in the door, briefly touching on your similar interests. Once you have made contact and gotten on their good graces, try calling and offering lunch. Most will enjoy the free lunch and time away from the office.
- Find out if they sponsor any networking events or conferences, then attend and head to their table or booth. Introduce yourself and network in a little bit. If they are small business the owner is likely to be there. Then try the above referencing the conversation you had at the event instead of capitalizing on whatever is in their bio.
- Network with someone lower in the chain and climb your way to the top, or until you find someone in the competitors company that can give you enough information freely.
- If you are a student, things are really easy for you. Almost as if they don’t really take you seriously and feel they can indulge anything with you. Seriously, try it. Just email a competitor and tell them you are working on a business plan for a class and see what happens. But make sure you really are a student and are working on a business plan for a class, or that could really backfire on you.
There are a few things that I think should go unsaid, but I will touch on them anyway. First, be polite. Do not expect them to do anything for you. Second, make your intentions known before you get all the way to a conversation. Third, thank them and keep in touch. Maybe even send them a gift basket once you get off the ground announcing your new launch. They will be happy for you.
Recently, I had the privledge of attending the e-nnovations 2007 Mid Atlantic Entrepreneurs Conference. It took place the BWI Marriot hotel, which was astounding. The one thing I like about conferences: free stuff and food. Seriously, they feed you like its their job! Check out the rundown on the menu for the day.Breakfast:
- Cereals, snacks, pastries, milk, juice, water, coffee.
Lunch:
- Prime rib sliced thinly over caesar salad.
- Vegetable crab soup.
- Raspberry cheesecake.
Mid-day Snack:
- Haagen-dazs and Good Humor ice creams.
- Powerbars, fruits, granola.
- Gatorade, soda, water, juices.
Dinner:
- Spinach salad with gorgonzola cheese and walnuts w/ dressing.
- Chicken breast over rice with a light mango salsa, carrots and green beans.
- Raspberry Chocolate Cake!!
I’m still full, and that was a week ago.
We also got some free swag and snazzy name tags.
Besides brochures and ads from sponsors, along with the agenda and handouts, we also received a beautiful padfolio, a book on franchise opportunities, and a faux addidas gym bag to put it all in.
But in all seriousness, what really counts is what you take away from the conference. Which for me was handfuls of powerbars and gatorade. Just kidding (not really…). There are great networking (I know, scary.) and learning potentials at conferences. As long as you don’t eat so much you pass out in a breakout seminar. You can check out the agenda for the entrepreneurship conference by clicking here (pdf).
I managed to not just give out cards to a few people, this time I came back with someone to exchange emails with and a person who has a gig for my company. Between the food, free gear, and picking up a job.. That’s pretty sweet and goes to show you the great potential of these types of events, even if you hate networking as much as I do.
