Intellectual property (IP) is often a more valuable asset than businesses realize. Sometimes businesses understand the value of their IP only once they start to dissolve their company and have to divide their intellectual property rights. Other times, entrepreneurs do not understand how important IP rights are until it is too late, and their IP rights are lost forever....
Losing your business partner can be tough, both for the business and for you personally. While general partnerships confront the death of a business partner all the time, that is no comfort when it happens to you. One of the most important things to do if your business partner passes away is to take time to mourn and recover....
Business is booming in Florida. According to the United States Census Bureau, new business applications are up 4.3% year over year as of October 2022. Most of these applications were for the formation of small and medium-sized businesses. If you have plans to start your own business in Florida, there is no better time than now. Coming up with...
Recently, the United States Supreme Court agreed to hear a case in which Jack Daniel’s sued a dog toy company for trademark infringement. The case presents the Supreme Court with an interesting question regarding the intersection between free speech and trademark law. It also highlights how important trademarks are for businesses throughout America. Trademarks can be valuable assets for...
A strong partnership is great for business. Unfortunately, sometimes splitting up is the best decision business partners can make. When partners have incompatible visions for the future of their business, moving forward can be difficult. A buyout allows one partner to cash out on their contributions to the company while giving the other partners complete control. Though often the...
In 2006, the Walt Disney Company finalized its acquisition of Pixar Animation Studios. Disney’s current CEO, Bob Iger, describes the Pixar acquisition as his proudest decision as CEO of the company. At the time, Disney struggled to expand and take advantage of economies of scale. Pixar brought new technology, expertise, and fresh products to Disney’s portfolio of offerings. The...
Business simply is not done like it was in the old days anymore. A firm handshake and a nice meal are no longer substitutes for a solidly written contract. Florida business owners now want to enter into a written contract that outlines what each party is obligated to do and what each party will receive in return. Sadly, most...
Congratulation to Morgan A. Carter (Universal Technical Institute), BrewerLong’s 2022 Future Business Leaders Scholar. Over 450 applicants submitted essays reflecting on this quote from former Illinois governor and US presidential candidate, Adlai E. Stevenson: “Law is not a profession at all, but rather a business service station and repair shop.” Following is an excerpt from Mr. Carter’s winning essay...
Franchises are excellent ways for entrepreneurs to enter new markets without starting a new business from scratch. Alternatively, if you have a successful business model, a way to grow your business without stretching your time and resources thin is to transform it into a franchise. The person who decides to run the franchise (the franchisee) opens a new location...
As a Florida business owner, you may not realize that your intellectual property (IP), or the ideas behind your business, can be as valuable as your business itself. Obtaining a trademark to protect some of your intellectual property can prevent others from stealing your ideas and profiting from them. That said, whether you are a new or experienced entrepreneur,...