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I am part of an AI tech startup registered in India. We are currently in the prototype stage and want to register a patent for our technology in the US. We do not have any existing patents in India or elsewhere, and we are unsure about any challenges we might face in the US patent process. How can... View More

answered on Jul 14, 2025
To obtain a patent in the US, here is the process for someone in India.
(1) Find a patent attorney in India. To find such a lawyer, you may contact a lawyer that you already know who will be able to provide you a reference.
(2) The patent attorney in India should determine if your... View More
I was a member of an LLC based in Texas that held real estate in Missouri. My partner, without prior communication or my knowledge, sold the real estate. Given my position in the LLC, what are my options?

answered on Jul 10, 2025
It depends on whether the company agreement of your limited liability company (LLC) requires your approval to sell the real estate.
An LLC can be either member-managed or manager-managed. Whomever manages the LLC--who is called the "manager"--is the person, or people if more... View More
I'm planning to start dropshipping a product, but I've discovered that another brand has already patented the entire product under US-12053030-B2. We are still in the planning stage and have not started selling. I am not aware of any licensing agreements available, and as a small startup,... View More

answered on Jul 7, 2025
That is an excellent and timely question. It is much better to address this now during the planning stage than later, after significant investments have been made.
The first question you should be asking is whether your product actually infringes on the patent. While the specification and... View More
I'm starting a new business and have two options for purchasing the product I want to sell. I could buy it from a competitor, who offers a small discount and valuable industry insights, but there's no contract or non-compete agreement in place—only a trademark on the product name.... View More

answered on Jul 7, 2025
First and foremost, you can be sued by anybody at any time for any reason or no reason at all. I repeat this all the time to my clients. There is nothing you can do about it. However, it should be over shortly if they don't have a reason to recover.
If there is an active patent on the... View More
I am starting a business called "REDFIN PRINTS" and would like to trademark both the name and the logo, which I designed myself. Can you provide guidance on how to go about this process and what steps I need to take?

answered on Jun 24, 2025
First, have you looked to see if anyone has registered the name REDFIN PRINTS, or something similar? You mention that you want to trademark both the name and logo in Florida, so are you looking for federal registration or do you just want to protect the marks locally? If you're looking for... View More
I am the sole member of an LLC that owns a condo in Miami Beach, FL. I want to transfer the property from the LLC to my name. The condo has no liens or mortgages. I've faced difficulties in obtaining condo insurance under the LLC and cannot take advantage of real estate tax discounts. The... View More

answered on Jun 17, 2025
Generally, there are 2 steps that would need to be completed from a procedural stand point for the transfer. #1 Review the COAs governing documents to identify what requirements are needed for transfer. Usually, you will need COA approval to transfer ownership interest. So make sure to comply with... View More
I have created a form of permanent jewelry that involves hand wiring the last link, using handmade links for each piece. This method is unique in creating permanent jewelry from linked jewelry, and as far as I know, it hasn't been done before. I want to know if this is something that can be... View More

answered on Jun 16, 2025
Yes, this is something that could be patented. Yes, patenting is the most suitable form of intellectual property protection for this type of work.
You should find a patent lawyer who will be able to help you. The patent lawyer does not have to live close to you -- you can hire someone in... View More
My father and his brother became partners in a mechanic business in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. The business is registered solely in my father's name, and he made all the financial investments. Due to ongoing disrespect and a recent family dispute, my father wants to remove his brother from... View More

answered on Jun 10, 2025
Fisrt of all, the relevant law in Canada my differ substantially from that in the United States. This author is not licensed to practice law in Canada, but I am providing this answer based on general principals of U.S. common law.
To address your father's business dispute with his... View More
I would like to know if I can register a trademark for sports education services before formally registering my business institution. I'm planning to offer services in the sports education area and want to secure the brand name early on.

answered on May 30, 2025
The sine qua non of trademark registration is actual use in commerce that Congress may regulate. You cannot register a trademark before you have established a business that actually offers the service for which you want to register the trademark. However, you can APPLY for a trademark registration... View More
I would like to know if I can register a trademark for sports education services before formally registering my business institution. I'm planning to offer services in the sports education area and want to secure the brand name early on.

answered on May 30, 2025
It is important to file a trademark application in the name of the correct owner (otherwise, your trademark registration will be at risk). The correct owner is typically the individual or entity actually using the mark in commerce. Assuming your "business institution" is the entity that... View More
I would like to know if I can register a trademark for sports education services before formally registering my business institution. I'm planning to offer services in the sports education area and want to secure the brand name early on.

answered on May 30, 2025
Yes. You can file an intent to use trademark application. You'll be able to secure the name without having to provide a specimen for 6 months after the application is approved.
I am planning to establish a US business entity, possibly a corporation or LLC, to sell and provide aftermarket automotive parts manufactured in Russia to the US market. Due to recent US sanctions on Russia, I am concerned about the legality and safety of this venture. Specifically, I'm... View More

answered on May 29, 2025
In addition to the issues of compliance with the sanctions laws of the two countries, both the United States regarding the verification of your Russian supplier, its managers and founders, and the Russian sanctions legislation, you will also face difficulties in making payments to Russia.... View More
I have a single-member LLC in Texas that owns a rental property. The LLC has a separate bank account where rent is collected and expenses are paid. However, the mortgage and property insurance are in my name, with the LLC listed as an additional insured on the insurance. I'm the managing... View More

answered on May 28, 2025
You have already taken the most effective step by holding the rental property in an LLC instead of in your individual name. It is hard to pierce the company veil in Texas. Merely holding the mortgage and insurance in your individual name is not dispositive. A plaintiff would have to prove that... View More
I am in the process of getting a divorce in Texas. After getting married in the Netherlands, I inherited a large sum of money from my mother in June 2019, which I used to purchase a house and a business. Both properties are jointly titled in my wife's and my name, which I did because I wanted... View More

answered on May 25, 2025
The money you inherited was originally your separate property. But when you used it to buy a house and a business and then put both in your and your wife’s names, the law assumes you meant to give her half.
Because of that, the court will probably treat both the house and the business as... View More
I am in the process of getting a divorce in Texas. After getting married in the Netherlands, I inherited a large sum of money from my mother in June 2019, which I used to purchase a house and a business. Both properties are jointly titled in my wife's and my name, which I did because I wanted... View More

answered on May 28, 2025
Your inheritance would be considered separate property, and had you bought a house with that money and not put it in your spouses name, it would more than likely have remained your separate property, but once you put the home and business in both of your names, the Court will more than likely... View More
I am interested in acquiring ownership of a defunct company that ceased operations in 1968, along with its key original filed trademarks. Some of these trademarks are still actively used by an owner within the same industry, while others are expired or have limited use. I want to continue the... View More

answered on May 13, 2025
Trademark rights in the United States are primarily governed by federal law and adjudicated through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the federal court system, rather than through state registration systems. While some states, including Illinois, do maintain their own trademark... View More
I'm in the process of starting an LLC for a company in the Motion Picture and Television industry, specifically Visual Effects. I live in New York, but most of the work will be outsourced to India, and business operations will primarily occur outside New York. I'm considering registering... View More

answered on May 1, 2025
I prefer Delaware because it offers specific advantages that are particularly attractive for businesses seeking investment or that want to minimize their tax burdens. As a New York attorney for 45 years, I find that New York has an excellent law and a legal system. Still, Delaware is more flexible... View More
I have already registered my LLC and have a logo and company name designed. I discovered that while my logo is unique, the company name is already in use by another entity. What steps should I take to register my logo and resolve the issues with my company name? What legal challenges could this... View More

answered on Apr 30, 2025
JA's AI response is actually appropriate since only a very general response can be given on a free online Q and A. Your logo and your name would need to be known to properly advise you. If your logo is a yellow "M" and your name is McDonald's Burgers, LLC you have problems. If... View More
I have a company called RemarkablyGreenLLC that has been registered in Florida since September 2023. Another company started using the exact same name in 2024, but I have not been approached by them, and we seem to provide different services. I have not taken any legal action yet. Can someone use... View More

answered on Apr 29, 2025
When I checked on Sunbiz.org I only found one company with the name Remarkably Green, LLC. Are you the owner, Omar R. Johnson? I did a check with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and found the trademark "REMARKABLY GREEN ECO-PRODUCTS FOR A BETTER TOMORROW EST. 2024" that has been... View More
When dissolving my LLC, I need to pay back several personal guarantees, including an SBA 7 loan with monthly repayments, a line of credit from a credit union, overdue business rent, and accountant fees with net 30-day terms. No creditors have contacted me yet, but I want to ensure I don't show... View More

answered on Apr 28, 2025
You need to ask whether there is advantage or virtue in not showing preferential treatment. If you don’t have enough to repay everyone in full, you might want to use your own best interest as the criteria for deciding who to pay. An attorney could help you to choose between different options to... View More
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