All legal aspects of a business including incorporation, intellectual property and contracts
2
votes
5answers
270 views
When do I worry about the legal stuff?
I heard somewhere that you don't have a business unless you are making money and you need to worry about legal stuff only then. Is this true?
Am I eventually going to need to get help with terms ...
3
votes
3answers
817 views
Startup LLC, tax time HELP, anyone?
I registered my company as an LLC last February(2009). Since that time, I've had a lot of expenses, but no revenue because it's not quite completely up and running.
How should I file my taxes now? ...
0
votes
1answer
507 views
How to open a graphics and animation company in India?
I am gathering information on how to set-up and run a graphics and animation company in India for mostly overseas clients. What is the overall procedure? What permits and licenses are required by law? ...
3
votes
5answers
466 views
What's the best way to structure software contracts for small projects?
What are the proper incentives, and workflow processes, for contract development?
17
votes
7answers
878 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" ...
0
votes
2answers
54 views
Legal Question: Photograph Licensing
A partner and I had a marketing firm many, many years ago. He and I with some contractors as needed. Very small. We set it up as a C Corp I believe (checking with him to be sure).
We featured work ...
1
vote
1answer
165 views
Initial Agreement
I've come to an employment agreement with a startup company and they've sent me a copy of our agreement to look over and sign. I can't afford to get a lawyer to take a look at it, but I would like to ...
0
votes
3answers
187 views
IP and legal issues around use of some technologies
PS: i am naive if not zero when it comes to what it means to start or run a startup. So, please bear my question.
i am very passionate to work on some of my ideas but i am always let down by the ...
2
votes
3answers
223 views
Online Startup Location in Regards to Tax?
I understand you can incorporate in other states for legal/tax advantages. Suppose I wanted to stay in-state for now. Can I claim my business is in a nearby city for tax purposes, using a PO Box? The ...
2
votes
1answer
169 views
Time and money for early-stage merger (or acqusition) of companies?
How much time and money does an early stage merger take?
I have an unfunded startup. I am talking to a company that has completed their Round A.
It seems like they might want to acquire / merge with ...
2
votes
4answers
442 views
New Social Networking Site, help with Liability Insurance please
I'm about to launch a new website business. I'm incorporate as an LLC but the site is not quite finished yet. I hope to launch it soon. Currently, I don't have any employees.
However, I realize I ...
2
votes
2answers
136 views
Legal name of business
If you own a company which is held by holding company, how do you write the legal name of the company in documents and legal papers? Do you just include the name you do business as or also include ...
1
vote
2answers
215 views
Is it possible for a teen to form an LLC or C-Corp?
Is it possible for a teen to form an LLC/C-Corp? If so, what are the costs, the process and the requirements?
I'm a US Citizen but currently live in Bosnia. I'm 17, turning 18 on December 2nd.
0
votes
2answers
325 views
Do Start-ups Need Cost Effective and Rapid Patent Services
My partner and I, after many years of researching and inventing, became patent agents and formed an LLC. Our business model is based on start-ups that need patents and trademarks but can't afford the ...
3
votes
4answers
2k views
What does it entail to form LLC in Nevada, if I live outside Nevada?
What does it entail to form LLC in Nevada if I live outside Nevada? I would like to benefit from Nevada's tax/business-friendly laws.
I would be the sole founder a software business. The product(s) ...
1
vote
1answer
158 views
Startup Visa: How can we secure funding from abroad? Is it flawed?
There is a proposal lately to push the US government to create a startup visa for brilliant innovators/entrepreneus from outside USA. With this visa, it is said that these innovators will be allowed ...
3
votes
1answer
368 views
Do I need a Registred Agent (I'm using CSC) in Delaware?
My startup is Delaware C Corp incorporated since 1 year and a half. It didn't have any activities until now, and won't for 3 or 4 more months. I just paid the Delaware Annual Franchise Tax directly ...
3
votes
1answer
126 views
Recommendations for a rating/review website
I'm building a web platform to allow users rate/review a niche group of organizations and consultants.
I would love to blog about the development process and design decisions. Should I keep my ...
5
votes
5answers
1k views
How can I leave my startup and keep all of my shares?
I am really pleased I have found this forum as I need some help.
I am a co founder of a privately funded start up. We are having some success and we have just received some awards and have some ...
3
votes
7answers
316 views
Best source for restriction free photos
I need help finding images with the right licensing for my application.
I need to find images with a license that will allow me to:
Have the users of my web application change the stock photo ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
Intellectual property - Employee Agreement
I work for an employer in the recruitment advertising industry and I'm pretty sure I've signed an agreement that mentions my employer has rights to intellectual property for anything I work on while ...
1
vote
5answers
1k views
Can you use a domain name that includes a product name from another company?
Can you use a domain name that includes a product or company name from another company?
For example, could I register a domain starbucks-reviews.com and make reviews of starbucks shops? Or ...
0
votes
3answers
352 views
Bootstrapped Startup - What Legal Forms to Put In place
I am looking for a co-founder now for a project that would love to get up and running. As an initial formality are there any documents out there that can outline in basic terms what each person is ...
3
votes
3answers
326 views
book name as Tag line for my website — intellectual property issues
I am planning to use the name of a book (about 3-4 yrs old) as the tag line of my website.
Its three words long.
What are the IP issues here, how do i know if i can use it legally or if the author ...
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 ...
2
votes
3answers
151 views
Securing contract with a freelancer
I wonder - is it possible to sign a contract with a freelancer for a regular contract job securely?
I mean how can I justify that all the work he has done will be given to my company and nobody else ...
2
votes
3answers
2k views
Mutual or Unilateral NDA?
Which do you think is better to begin a relationship with a vendor/contractor or partner/co-founder? What are some of the advantages or disadvantages of choosing one over the other?
Thanks
6
votes
7answers
579 views
Start with LLC and convert to corporation later
Is it possible to start with an LLC to avoid the overhead and convert to a corporation later when there is some visible traction and need for raising funds from outside investors?
1
vote
2answers
258 views
California Business Law
For the purposes of this questions, let's say I have a domain example.com. Eventually, I want to form Example LLC in California, where I live. However, at this point in time, I don't want to, because ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Business selling MP3 downloads - License necessary?
A few friends and I are looking at starting a sideline business selling mp3 versions of various creative commons works (can't get into too many more details). We've done the legwork on the legal side ...
4
votes
3answers
680 views
Google APIs - what's the story with their licensing?
My new build package features a link with Google maps. However, having had a look at their terms and conditions, I am unsure exactly where I stand with integrating their tools within my chargeable ...
3
votes
6answers
1k views
What's a good book for learning business law? [closed]
Most books on business rarely talk about the legal side of business. After reading some business books I have realised that there's so many things about legal side of business that we have to ...
1
vote
2answers
136 views
Accepting money too early
I want to start charging for some features on my site, but I don't have the business side sorted out yet. As a South African, I was thinking of starting an LLC in Delaware for example and my associate ...
5
votes
8answers
2k views
Internet startup - Legal terms and company setup
I am working on a internet startup, living in New York City. I am planning to setup a company and I am looking for a good Lawyer to help me with the following:
a) Setup the company (prob Corp)
b) ...
4
votes
3answers
5k views
Can non-dilutable stock (or equivalent) be issued?
I think I understand stock dilution (and I know in quite some cases it's not bad to get diluted) but I was wondering (it's mostly curiosity but I still think it's an interesting question for ...
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 ...
1
vote
4answers
851 views
How did Apple manage to get its trademark?
I mean, isn't "Apple" a bit generic ? Could that kind of word still be trademarked in 2010 or would the request be rejected ?
2
votes
3answers
112 views
Working with competitor until launch
I am currently generating the majority of my income from providing freelance support, development and consultancy time to users of another companies software product.
I work directly with companies ...
1
vote
6answers
234 views
partner messing around with employees
a bit unusual maybe but a real life encounter and might be a lesson for some of you and for me too in terms of what to do here and after from fellow startupers
a partner in 2 various start-up ...
1
vote
3answers
3k views
Anyone started a company while on H1B visa?
Has anyone here started a company while on H1B worker visa? If yes, what legal issues did you face? Could you explain how you overcame those issues?
3
votes
5answers
2k views
buying a customer list
we have been approached by a competitor going out of business of website design to buy their customer list. as exciting this might be it also might bring various issues to the table and to take care ...
0
votes
2answers
469 views
is creating black hat SEO software illegal?
it seems like theres so many black hat SEO softwares out there that helps one spam blogs, forums, and build massive links.
the question is, is it illegal to develop and sell such software ? or is it ...
3
votes
5answers
890 views
Do I need an NDA for initial meetings with marketing agencies?
We are a new start-up currently building a CRM/Sales team management package that we plan to bring to market in a couple of months (we are based in UK). We already have our launch customers in place ...
2
votes
2answers
378 views
Legal issues with contract labor?
Are there any legal pitfalls I should know about when creating a service where I pay users to provide a service to customers? The model I'm thinking about is like Amazon Turk for a certain vertical. ...
5
votes
5answers
289 views
are payments processors mutually exclusive?
I'm bootstrapping a software business for the first time. I worked in 'stealth mode' for one full-year and now I've got about 100 private-beta-testers loving the software (and already begging for ...
5
votes
5answers
1k views
How to build a strong “Divorce Strategy” in an Operating Agreement
What types of things might I think about and incorporate into my operating agreement as it relates to a "divorce strategy" (either amicably or not). Please respond with good questions my partner and ...
9
votes
2answers
7k 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 ...
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
...
3
votes
4answers
1k views
Royalty based partnering agreements
I'm working on defining a partnering agreement to be the technical co-founder on a SaaS startup. The founder/CEO has the experience in the service industry which we are targeting, but found that she ...
4
votes
5answers
184 views
How can a small biz protect US trademark infringement coming from other countries?
My US-based online media service has picked up a clone - a site based in a European country that nearly mirrors our name. According to a trademark lawyer it's pretty clear that they are violating our ...
