Author Archives: John DiGiacomo

What is Commercial Disparagement? In the broadest sense, commercial disparagement involves advertising or other public statement including  false or misleading information about a business that discourages consumers from buying from or dealing with that business. There is no requirement that the other business be your competitor, although that is the context in which problems most […]

The Nice Agreement established a system of international trademark classes used by most countries for registration. Here’s how the Nice Classification system works for brand owners.

PCT filings allow inventors to seek patent protection in multiple countries through a single application. Here’s how the Patent Cooperation Treaty process works and who should use it.

A cannabis brand trademark opposition illustrated how the TTAB handles registration disputes in the marijuana industry. Here’s what the case teaches about cannabis trademarks.

International trademark portfolios require coordinating filings, renewals, and enforcement across multiple jurisdictions. Here’s how to manage your global trademark rights efficiently.

Discovering revenge porn posted online requires immediate action. Here are five steps victims should take, from documenting evidence to pursuing legal remedies and takedowns.

Intellectual property (IP) rights are valuable assets and startup companies need sophisticated legal and business strategies for monetizing these IP assets. The basic IP inventory for startup companies contains: Trade Secrets Trademarks Internet Domain Names Copyrights and Patents The obvious way in which new startup companies monetize their IP is to incorporate the IP into […]

Many startup companies do not realize that their intellectual property (IP) rights are often their most valuable asset. Few startups have portfolios of real property or vast quantities of retail inventory and other physical assets. What startups usually have are ideas, and ideas are valuable if they are properly protected. The Basic Intellectual Property Inventory […]

The GDPR is the EU’s landmark data privacy law affecting any business that handles European residents’ data. Here’s what it requires and who it covers.

Internet legal issues from contracts to IP to data privacy require specialized legal counsel. Here’s why your online business needs an internet attorney and what they handle.