Law Blog

As higher education costs continue to escalate, parents or grandparents may look to different savings vehicles for their children's college fund.  The IRS, under section 529, provides parents with the opportunity for a higher education savings plan. There are two sets of tax rules for 529 plans (the "Plan").  One relates to the income taxation of the owne...

In a volatile economic climate, such as the current economic downturn, there is a significant increase in litigation cases and bankruptcy filings. When economic times flourish, people focus on acquiring assets and doing "deals". During slower times, people may look for an opportunity to protect their assets from potential creditors' claims. There are planning tools...

You may think you don't need a will because you don't have many assets. However, if you don't have a will, the state could determine who gets your property and even who will take care of your children should both you and your spouse die at the same time. Many changes and events occur during your lifetime and if you have experienced any of the following life events ...

Brainstorming and collaborating frequently produces superior work.  For that reason, it is not surprising that many creative works, in the art and literature world, as well as in the business world, are the result of co-creation.  Unfortunately, it is common for disputes to arise over co-created materials.  That is not to say you shouldn't collaborat...

We are all used to clicking the "I agree" button and frequently we click without reading the lengthy terms and conditions.  While many are long, these virtual agreements bring with them rights, responsibilities and restrictions.  By clicking "I Agree", you have created a contract.   In the on-line order process, frequently you will click on an agreement button, ...

Comedian Nathan Fielder created a media stir, and long lines, when he opened a coffee shop called Dumb Starbucks.  The establishment was quickly closed down for not having a permit.  In the short time that the shop was open, legal commentators everywhere speculated about whether Starbucks would sue for trademark infringement, and if it did, how the case would tur...

The new estate laws are challenging to comply with and will require most high net worth individuals to review their existing plan. One of the major issues is how the trust is divided on the death of the first spouse, and who makes certain elections. There are other critical decisions that need to be made to protect assets and minimize or delay estate taxes. Prior E...

As an artist or a photographer, your most valuable assets are your creations. An artist's work can end up on someone else's product, marketing piece, or website, without the artist's permission and without the artist ever earning a royalty. The piece may even have been modified or there might be no credit disclosing who created it. Many artists and photographers fe...

When it comes time to choose a name for the new product or service you are launching, it is important to know that not all trademarks are created equal. In addition to the marketing considerations of choosing a brand name, there are also important legal considerations to keep in mind. Let's consider the example of opening a gas station.  If a company opens 50 ...

When the organization responsible for assigning domain names announced several years ago that it would expand the generic top level domain name system from the previous 21 to an unlimited number, brand owners knew their legal budgets would have to be increased to protect their trademarks from cybersquatters in this new terrain. Brand owners lobbied against the chan...