Chicago Business Blog
A limited liability company can function as an extremely powerful and flexible Illinois business organizationstructure. The LLC, if structured properly by a Chicago business lawyer, can shield members (aka LLC business owners) from the legal obligations and[...]
Business contract breaches are on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic and our firm is seeing a rise in contract disputes leading to business litigation. Unfortunately, as the coronavirus continues to disrupt business, more and more[...]
Our Chicago business law firm advises clients across multiple industries, market sectors, and various stages in the supply chain regarding numerous Coronavirus-related issues. Companies need to understand where the law, the virus, and their businesses intersect. [...]
Illinois limited liability companies that elect to be taxed as a sole proprietorship (single member) or partnership (multi member) maintain balance sheets that are distinct from Illinois corporations in one important respect: they require a separate[...]
In our free market economy, public domain (i.e., an invention, creative work, commercial symbol, or any other creation that is not protected by through trademarks, copyrights, or patents) is the general rule and intellectual property is[...]
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (Office or USPTO) is setting or adjusting certain trademark fees, as authorized by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA), as amended by the Study of Underrepresented Classes Chasing Engineering[...]
A generic trademark is a product name or term which is the actual name for that product. Examples include: BANANA for bananas, or LAW FIRM for a law firm or CHICAGO TRADEMARK ATTORNEY for Chicago trademark attorney.[...]
In trademark litigation, it is the plaintiff’s burden to plead and prove validity of the trademark and infringement by defendant. For trademark infringement, the test is “likelihood of confusion.” The likelihood of confusion test for trademark[...]
Coronavirus-related paid leave for workers and tax credits for small and midsize businesses The US Treasury Department, IRS and Department of Labor issued a joint announcement that small and midsize employers can take advantage of two[...]
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued an update to its 2009 pandemic guidance, “Pandemic Preparedness in the Workplace and the ADA.” The updated guidance advises employers that: Employers should follow guidance from the Centers for[...]
On March 18, 2020, the Senate passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which President Trump signed last night and will become effective April 2, 2020. The below is a general summary and is not intended[...]
Likelihood of confusion for purposes of trademark registration the same standard as likelihood of confusion for trademark infringement. Below is a summary of some of the many factors considered in determining registrability of a trademark under[...]
Illinois employers are going through one of the most sweeping sets of legal changes in state history. With over 250 new laws taking effect this week, as well as hundreds of other extensive amendments to existing[...]
For those small business in Chicago that have been economically impacted by COVID-19, a Fund has been set up by the City of Chicago for low interest loans for up to five years. To request further[...]
UPDATE AS OF 3-19-20 U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FACT SHEET – ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOANS INDIANA Declaration 16348 (Disaster: IN-00073) Incident: CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) occurring: January 31, 2020 & continuing Date: 03/18/2020 All counties within the[...]
Apple, like any other start up company, started with a vision and a target product that they believed would ultimately lead to their success. Apple’s vision product was the personal computer, but this is not what[...]
As smartphones and tablets push and change the marketplace, it can help create a lighter wallet for the consumer and it makes it easier for businesses to charge for their services and keep better track of[...]
What brand of ketchup is in your pantry? What brand of ketchup is at your favorite restaurant? Odds are it was probably Heinz ketchup. It seems everywhere you go, if you want some ketchup, its going[...]
More than half of the world owns a smartphone. It is expected that this year there will be more people that use a mobile device rather than a laptop or a desktop computer. In these times,[...]