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 ...
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
...
2
votes
5answers
319 views
Did you use an incorporation service? What service did you use?
There are a good amount of services that help you incorporate your startup for S Corp, C Corp or LLC, like Incorporate.com and Agents & Corporations. They help you put together the documents you ...
1
vote
2answers
200 views
How do I get a trademark on a logo and slogan when I have no money?
I have an idea for two great logos and slogans that I would sell to two different companies if I could afford to get them secured through a reputable attorney. I have an attorney in mind. Is it a good ...
3
votes
2answers
161 views
Trademarks on company name - would “BodyLife” and “BodyForLife” collide?
I'm trying to understand how similarities in trademarks are dealt with. To take an example (that I used in a previous unrelated question), assuming a trademark existed for "BodyLife", a company ...
1
vote
1answer
402 views
Annoying startup Tax question - I moved, company didn't
I started my LLC in Michigan in 2009, filed the required paperwork, and sent in my tax return for 2009. My company was just myself, and I worked out of my home in Michigan.
After getting married ...
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?
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 ...
1
vote
1answer
1k views
New brand under a DBA for a separate division in the company
We have a new web-based application that is due to launch towards the end of the summer. It has its own domain name, of course, but is really not related to the core of the business or our current ...
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
9answers
316 views
Looking for most permissive license for human readable source code
Having a web site that may contain source code posted by users, I am in need of a completely obligation free license, and a statement by which users agree code posted by them is allowed to be ...
1
vote
2answers
369 views
Foreign Incorporation utilizing USA
I'm a Canadian citizen living in Canada and I've been investigating putting together a US-based corporation. My partner is a US citizen, but it appears that it will be difficult for me to be able to ...
17
votes
7answers
866 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" ...
4
votes
4answers
1k views
Where should I set up my global internet business?
Is there a widely recognised 'best place of business' for global social-media style internet businesses, and what are the considerations? Considerations I'm thinking about are taxation, regulation, ...
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 ...
3
votes
4answers
1k views
Maintaining LLC control with less than 50% ownership
Hopefully someone can gimme a hand. This is actually a question for a school project, but I've got some ideas kicking in my head for a startup, so I have good cause to know this for personal benefit ...
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 ...
3
votes
3answers
613 views
Cheapest way to llc/merchant account?
My current startup(which consists of two) is going through incorporation, registering the merchant account and hooking it up with Braintree. I saw Jason L Baptiste's interview on Mixergy where he ...
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 ...
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
199 views
Can i use a logo on my website to sell THEIR product without permission
Can i use a logo on my website to sell THEIR product without permission.
I am starting my own business selling brand named footwear, can i put logo's on my site to show which brands i am selling? Can ...
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 ...
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 ...
5
votes
4answers
13k views
Is there a Canadian equivalent of an LLC?
I'm looking to register a business name in Canada, however looking at the Revenue Canada web site I believe my only options are to register as either:
Sole Proprietorship: Downside here being that ...
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 ...
15
votes
5answers
938 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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
5
votes
11answers
600 views
Where can I get free/cheap legal documents?
We're looking to hire our first employee and we want to make sure the employement and stock vesting stuff is all in order - we're in the UK so is it safe to assume that anything we read regarding USA ...
3
votes
3answers
239 views
I have a site and a company. How do I actually put the site as owned by this company?
Essentially, a site is just something independent that lives on the Web. How do I actually associate that site as being protected under legal liability of my LLC company?
Does it just happen ...
4
votes
3answers
533 views
Why incorporate in the US? What about Bermuda and other tax-advantageous countries?
Basically, why should one incorporate in the US? I'm interested in three cases:
1 - Most of the revenue and employees are in the US.
2 - Most of the employees are in the US, but the revenues come ...
6
votes
6answers
5k views
Delaware LLC, one person, internet-only business; Do I need to register as a foreign corporation?
This seems like a straightforward, common question that would not require a lawyer to answer, but I'm having a lot of trouble finding an answer to the question in the title.
I would like to form an ...
5
votes
9answers
2k views
Are LLC and “S Corporation” the same thing? What are the differences?
From what I have read, both LLCs and S-Corps give you the benefits of a Corporation for legal purposes while avoiding double taxation.
However, I can't determine what the difference between the two ...
4
votes
1answer
446 views
Is there any tax advantage or incentive to leave money in an LLC at the end of the tax year?
We're forming a 2 person LLC and part of what we're trying to figure out is how much to leave in the LLC to build up some capital reserves.
Since an LLC is a pass through tax entity if the LLC earns ...
4
votes
6answers
1k views
forming single member LLC for internet website
I live in Texas, and want to form a single member LLC (not decided which state).
If I have paid visitors from all over the world, do I need to register foreign LLC in other states even though I am a ...
4
votes
2answers
585 views
Good 'starter' SOW or Contracts for Consultant business?
I run a consulting biz on the side (just me), doing odd IT jobs ranging from web development / design / db management etc;
I have typically made small contracts or statements of work for the jobs, ...
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 ...
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 ...
4
votes
2answers
178 views
Copyright/IP of sudokus
I have recently learned how to do constraint processing and I figured out how to generate sudoku puzzles. I thought it would be interesting/fun to create an interactive website for these puzzles. I ...
3
votes
2answers
156 views
Do I need to incorporate in the US to run events?
I'm from Germany and want to run small events (around 50 participants) in the United States, which involve the sale of tickets (probably online) and payment to contractors which contribute to the ...
2
votes
1answer
179 views
I was just offered a position as cofounder of a startup with someone who I have not known previously are there any legal steps to take?
I was just offered a position as cofounder of an already established startup. The revenue on it is minimal. This was the first I had met the founder. Are there any legal steps or other steps I should ...
2
votes
4answers
276 views
Is it fair use/protected use to use a registered trademark on my website
We provide software that can measure performance of another company's product which happens to be trademarked (word/phrase - not a symbol). We want to name it specifically.
Is this protected/fair ...
1
vote
1answer
128 views
Side projects while being a co-founder and officer of a company
There is already an awesome question and answers on IP and spare time related to employees:
If I'm working at a company, do they have intellectual property rights to the stuff I do in my spare ...
1
vote
2answers
297 views
Online business and state registration?
I'd like to form an LLC for an online business in a state other than mine (I live in California), but am not sure about the state in which I should register the business afterward. The business will ...
0
votes
2answers
3k views
Legal requirements to start a ecommerce website in India
I would like to start a ecommerce website in India, could you please help me with the legal requirements and any guidance for this. My intent is to sell merchandise through internet. Do I need to ...
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 ...
5
votes
4answers
5k views
Signing an NDA as an individual, not a company
I feel my question is silly, mainly because I am unaware of the English legal terms.
I am in the process of (legally) forming a small company for videogame development. I have created a game which I ...
4
votes
3answers
721 views
Doing a startup on H1-B
I have been itching to do a startup since a long time but this visa (H1-B) is getting forever to sort out (6+ years already)
One idea to work around the H1B issue is as follows -
I transfer my H1 ...
3
votes
4answers
450 views
Should I incorporate myself, use a high end law firm, or somewhere in the middle?
I am launching a startup (who isnt :) ) and while I am not planning on looking for outside funding, I'd like to leave the option on the table in the event that I catch a tiger by the tail (meaning ...
2
votes
2answers
92 views
If I am bringing money to a new idea (Not my money but an investors) and get an ownership stake is this legal?
I have been asked by a friend to help him talk to investors about a business idea he has and to help him get funded. I asked him what would I get out of the deal and he offered interest in the ...
