Copyright protection arises when you create an ORIGINAL WORK OF AUTHORSHIP and fix it in a tangible medium of expression. So, while copyright does not protect plain ideas or concepts, it will protect the content you create on a webpage or in an eBook. Also, software can be protected by copyright laws. This protection actually [...]
Because the Internet is known as the “unknown” wild west at times when it comes to determining legal obligations and potential for lawsuits and legal trouble, it is strongly recommended that every website have legal terms and conditions governing privacy, the use of information, the use of the site and the sale of any services [...]
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) is the law that provides copyright owners with remedies if their works/content are being used unlawfully on an Internet site. While there are some administrative requirements to exercising remedies, the main requirement is that the copyright owner believe in good faith that its content is being misappropriated. In a [...]
Online fraud is growing rampantly without any end in sight. While the Internet has become a lucrative channel for conducting business and selling goods and services, it also created a lucrative avenue for scammers and thieves. Today, anyone can put up a professional website for very little costs. A domain only costs $8, hosting can [...]
I recently created a video for The LLC Expert website- explaining why any business owner should always do business through an asset protection vehicle such as an LLC (limited liability company). Many think through this analysis of whether to start an LLC the wrong way. For example, it is improper to think that you do [...]
The Internet is fundamentally based on the creation of a widespread and viral method of sharing information and most information posted on the Internet is FREE. Despite this, the content posted by anyone on the Internet is protected by copyright laws. Republishing or otherwise copying any articles or other content without the permission of the [...]
Another question I get often is whether an online business owner can register a domain name with a big name in their space. The goal here is that the search engines give some value from a search engine perspective to words in a domain name. For example, if someone sells a product or service related [...]
One big issue with the Internet is that it is really easy for competitors and other businesses to publish and share content on the Internet. Because many Internet businesses are so easily reproducible, the biggest competitive advantage you can create is developing your BRAND in your market. Think about the best brands on the Internet- [...]
Business owners seem to dread the obligation to provide their employees with reviews each year. Even if one will not come with a raise (which is likely this year given the economic environment), it is a good idea to conduct these annually. First, employees want to know how they are doing. Your employees are your [...]
My answer is very clear – NO. Given the very low costs to form a limited liability company or a corporation, and the relative ease of maintaining one of those entities, it just NEVER makes sense to operate a business without one. If you operate a business as a sole proprietor, you are 100% personally [...]