All legal aspects of a business including incorporation, intellectual property and contracts
26
votes
9answers
7k views
Does plagiarism apply to legal documents?
I want to copy a Terms & Conditions agreement from a competitors site & swap out their name for mine. A few entrepreneurs I know have also done it but I wanted to make sure there aren't any ...
20
votes
1answer
7k views
Is there a Terms of Service (TOS) template that I can use for my SaaS product? Please help, I am a geek and this is new to me
I am at a point where I need to have a Terms of Service (TOS) page ready before I launch my SaaS product. Is there a template somewhere that I can use, or is this something that only a lawyer can help ...
19
votes
6answers
989 views
Teammates have pushed me out of our venture. What to do now?
I along with 3 other people created a concept for an innovative Ecommerce platform as part of a 5 week startup pre-incubator. We had a great run and on demo day we won the audience and panel of ...
17
votes
7answers
867 views
What can you do when someone blatantly plagiarizes an entire blog post?
It's nice when folks quote parts of your post with a link back. It's another thing when the entire RSS entry is duplicated verbatim, including my "Retweet" buttons and the "Please leave a comment" ...
15
votes
5answers
941 views
Is it considered stealing to create a startup around someone else's idea?
A business partner and I have been "working" through email together on this idea HE had. I've put in 25 hours a week for the past 3-4 months developing it, and he hasn't done much of anything on his ...
14
votes
3answers
726 views
Overbudget and unable to complete software contract. What can I do and what can I expect to happen?
This might be a slightly long story, but I really would appreciate any help you can give me here. I am a young entrepreneur and currently run a struggling website development / software company.
...
12
votes
6answers
2k views
Where to start writing a Terms of Service / Privacy Policy?
I am interested in any advice / links / book references for writing both a terms of service and privacy policy in plain language that still offers me adequate protection. Startup is entirely web based ...
12
votes
4answers
2k views
How can I quit from my own company
I co-founded a consulting company in Vancouver 4 years ago with 2 partners. One of us is working full-time with the company and getting a modest salary. Me and my other partner are doing couple of ...
12
votes
1answer
335 views
There's a troll in my space - now what?
I've spent the last 3 months full-time building an alpha version of a web app, and developing a business plan for it. The alpha version is ready to launch. Recently I've stumbled upon the fact that ...
11
votes
5answers
428 views
Running an aggressive promotion against a competing product
We want to run a promotion on our website. In the promotion, if someone can provide us proof of purchase of a competitor's software license, we will give them a free software license of our product.
...
10
votes
10answers
5k views
Contract with co-founder signed before starting startup?
Co-founder is someone we really trust. But still there is a possibility for dispute.
Is it better to put everything in writing and sign it before starting startup? Is it worth to pay legal fee ...
10
votes
1answer
3k views
Putting Together a Privacy Policy and Terms of Service
I am putting together a privacy policy and terms of service. I have read these two posts:
http://answers.onstartups.com/questions/2783/where-to-start-writing-a-terms-of-service-privacy-policy
...
10
votes
4answers
316 views
Should users data be removed upon their request?
I have a commercial web startup. From a legal standpoint does maintaining users record (database info) if they decide to delete their account outweighs deleting their record?
Maintaining the users ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
What happens when a UK company infringes a US patent?
I'm a one man startup with a high price, low volume, niche software product that I'm considering selling in the US. However, I'm concerned that it may infringe a US patent without me knowing because ...
9
votes
6answers
410 views
Legal or Ethical Responsibility to Safely Store Passwords
I'm working as a technical advisor to a start-up company. The company licenses its product (a web and mobile application) to large groups of people who then use it for a relatively short period of ...
9
votes
5answers
2k views
If I pitch my idea to a company, what are my rights?
I recently came up with what I believe is a great idea which builds on a specific technology already existing in the marketplace. I believe it represents a completely new use for the technology and ...
9
votes
5answers
277 views
Can someone under 18 start a business in the US?
I'm 15, and I want to repair computers, which I've recently found out is considered a business even if I just do it from home? Can someone start a business when they're under 18?
9
votes
4answers
1k views
Finding a good lawyer / accountant for my startup
I have been told that deciding how and when to incorporate my startup is best answered by speaking to an accountant or lawyer about my individual needs. Besides relying on referrals, how can I ...
9
votes
4answers
5k views
Founders Agreement
Can anyone recommend a place where I can download standard founders-agreement for a tech-startup? Preferably, it should include something about founders vesting (e.g. founders will become diluted if ...
9
votes
4answers
2k views
Is it legal to copy a user interface?
Is it a copyright infringement to copy a user interface? I'm not talking about the specific graphics, but the layout and the way users interact with the application.
For example, Blippy's UI seems ...
9
votes
4answers
301 views
Contractors Vs Employees
As a UK based tech start up working on a social app, what are the pros and cons of hiring contractors on a full time basis to build the app, against hiring the same people as employees?
Edit:
Let me ...
9
votes
2answers
6k views
Is there a legal way for a foreigner to start a business in US?
I am on a work visa (H1-B) in the US. From what I understand,
the only way for me to make money is through my employer. I've some
skills that I think I can use to create a product (or website ...
9
votes
1answer
447 views
Prenuptial separation agreement for cofounders
My apologies if this question has been asked before. I tried to find the answer reviewing other questions and still don't have the answer so here is the question(s):
We are now setting up the ...
8
votes
9answers
3k views
Should I pursue someone who stole my idea?
I consult to companies. I specialize in problem resolution, project management, research and occasionally, if there's a call for it, development.
Recently, I was contacted by a development manager at ...
8
votes
3answers
320 views
Have you had actual legal issues in a startup?
In getting started we all take shortcuts. I'm thinking about when we:
hire employees without having employee manuals or making them agree that they are at-will employees
enter into an agreement ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
To what extent are algorithms patentable, especially in the US and Europe?
I'd like to use an algorithm that has been published. It's not a must have for me, but would be convenient. The creator might be difficult to contact, but that's obviously not a reason to do the ...
8
votes
2answers
599 views
Fired from startup, vested equity
I was recently terminated from a startup without cause, where I was one of several founders owning a decent percentage of stock. We also had an angel investor (incubator) in with us for a small ...
8
votes
2answers
407 views
I got a lawyer email… should I even reply to this?
I got the followig message enclosed in an attached pdf file. I did some background research and the firm seems legit.
Dear Mr. Vadoff
Our law firm represents a client who prefers to remain ...
8
votes
3answers
499 views
How do minors legally start a business?
I am a fifteen year old Web and iPhone developer. I'm looking to get apps published on the App Store under a business name. So, this leads me to a few questions. (I already have a bought membership).
...
8
votes
2answers
404 views
How do I know if I am infringing on a technology patent?
I want to create an app for the Ipad which uses "videoconferencing" technology, very similar to what skype does.
How do I know if that is patented?
What happens if it IS patent protected and I use the ...
8
votes
3answers
506 views
How to relieve customer's concerns about what happens to my one-man startup web service if I die?
I own an S Corporation that has launched a niche market web service and have signed up a few customers. I'm still very much bootstrapping this and doing everything myself (a one-man show).
I'm ...
8
votes
2answers
361 views
Using US Based SaaS as a European company?
As EU companies are aware, the personal data protection law doesn't allow EU companies to store data in servers located outside of the EU. The only way to do this is for the provider to join the Safe ...
7
votes
6answers
353 views
Sticky IP situation
We are in a sticky situation, that is no ones fault but our own. We had approached a developer to join our startup. After showing him the project he was excited and decided to join. Our mistake was ...
7
votes
4answers
510 views
Should I email existing customers if they didn't 'opt-in' to receive email?
I have about 2000 users of my first product. When they bought (over the past 3 years), I didn't have any checkbox on my order page asking if they wanted to receive notifications or updates from my ...
7
votes
8answers
569 views
My startup is going to be crushed by my employer
I have created a startup around an idea that I have begun working on a few months ago.
Now my main employer has inadvertently started working on a project that is almost exactly the same and want me ...
7
votes
7answers
3k views
Apple Developer Program. What level of DUNS service do we need?
We are a startup and trying to register for the Apple Developer Program. Apple requires a DUNS number for it, and the Apple Developer website says that we can get one for FREE from D and B.
We ...
7
votes
2answers
449 views
Intellectual Property Suicide Pill
I'm planning a new software company that will license software to businesses. A lot of R&D will be needed to create the software and indeed, our codebase will be our biggest asset. Unfortunately ...
7
votes
4answers
243 views
Company A wants to hire company B to do some work, I'm a co-founder in both
What are some caveats in this situation? For example, how can I make sure my partners in both companies are happy, and there is no suspicion on their side that I'm tricking both companies to my own ...
7
votes
3answers
469 views
Are US NDAs enforceable in other countries?
Are NDAs a safe thing to do when hiring out of the country? I'm hiring freelancers to do some mobile programming work, and they reside in France. They have, very kindly, signed the NDA I provided for ...
7
votes
4answers
2k views
Legal implications of cloning a board game
I want to build an electronic version of an existing popular board game that will use the same game mechanic and follow similar rules, but without requiring a physical board to play or any of the ...
7
votes
2answers
382 views
Partner (he's a Friend) Wishes to Resign from Startup Prematurely
I am seeking help in how to handle an underperforming partner / friend that is resigning from an early phase of a startup.
Two friends and I began an equal partnership startup with the following ...
7
votes
5answers
413 views
Developing software during my free time
I work in Qatar as an IT administrator. I have developed a piece of software for my company in my free time. Developing software isn't part of my duties. If the company asks for the program's source ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
EULA for iPhone App
Should I provide a EULA for an iPhone app?
I understand that apps are covered by the default EULA that the App Store provides but, during some research today, three apps in a row asked me to agree to ...
7
votes
1answer
154 views
Which country to incorporate web startup in?
If we have a web startup originally targetting users from country A, but the majority of users end up to be from America, is it sufficient to have the company incorporated in country A?
Additionally ...
7
votes
1answer
325 views
What to consider when licensing source code
Component vendors like Syncfusion and Infragistics often make source code available to their customers (at an additional fee). Some benefits of this would appear to be:
Enable customers to make ...
7
votes
4answers
165 views
Can anyone share experiences in licensing content?
I have two companies that have interest in licensing my business's content (training materials). I want to offer exclusive and non-exclusive pricing options, maintenance fees (for annual updates), ...
6
votes
9answers
952 views
How do I deal with a co-founder who hasn't contributed?
Question: How do I deal with a co-founder who came up with the idea, asked me to partner with him, and now hasn't done anything since we agreed on going into business together.
Background: My friend ...
6
votes
3answers
5k views
Is it legal in US or Canada to accept donations?
Is it legal (US/Canada) to accept donations if you're not a government registered non-profit organization? I've seen it on a couple of sites and was wondering what are the laws surrounding those ...
6
votes
7answers
805 views
Revenue Split - I am doing 100% of the programming work, he's the idea man
My friend had a fantastic idea for an iPhone game. I am currently working on it, as he lacks the technical expertise at the moment to work on such a large project.
Here's my problem: what is an ideal ...
6
votes
8answers
2k views
Does my employer really own my new idea?
I am currently employed as a director of a UK-based software development company, but am considering setting up a new company for an idea that I conceived recently. My idea is software-based but for a ...
