Have you wondered about legal issues with your content and are concerned that another company may copy your content? Want to find out how you can protect yourself and your business’ creative and intellectual property?
You’ve come to the right place! Read below for gems of wisdom about applying for a trademark and protecting your IP. Then, read on to learn what you need to know about copyright, trademark and how to CYA.
How Ticora Started Her Trademark Agency for Creatives
Ticora is a wife and a mom and was let go from her job as an attorney because she had a baby. “I ended up going on maternity leave and when my son was 10 days old he called me on the phone and said ‘I think you’re not fit for the success of this firm. You need to stay home and get over your pregnancy brain.”
Since when does having a baby mean you can’t do your job? Never! After applying for over 100 attorney jobs and not getting any leads, she decided to open her door of opportunity. She founded her law firm dedicated to creators worldwide – The Creator’s Law Firm.
“I realized what I wanted to create didn’t exist. What I wanted was a safe place for women to work – a place for people to have their ideas supported and validated. A place where someone could understand what it’s like to be a creative.”
“I’m so happy to see what I built with my own hands by the grace of God. This is a place where we give you the freedom and protection to create. We help our clients protect their proprietary processes, programs, and processes in their profits by way of giving them the legal support that they need.”
While doing patent research, “I began to understand the heart of entrepreneurs and the heart of creatives and why you’re all so passionate about your ideas and how frustrating it can be when they don’t come to fruition or when you don’t have people who can help you understand the law.”
The company has grown over the past four years, becoming a powerhouse in the legal community. With a 98.5% success rate for trademark registrations, she can serve and support clients monthly.
Grow Your Business and Protect Your IP
Ticora created her company for entrepreneurs to have the ability to grow their businesses with peace of mind.
She provides services related to trademarks, copyrights contracts, and general counseling services.
“We really want to help businesses who operate and thrive in their purpose.”
I love that we’re serving trailblazers and pioneers, and legacy-driven entrepreneurs.
Trademark and Copyright Talk
Ticora says that trademark and copyright don’t get talked about enough.
“And I don’t think there’s always room to add more because the law is always changing. Laws are not static.”
So what can be true one year isn’t always necessarily true or valid the following year.
Common Trademark Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make
Many times people announce their product prematurely and without legal protection. “I see that people share concepts or go to online communities and ask for feedback about potential concepts without legal protection.” Cora recommends against this practice because it’s perilous.
You want to put an application on the record with the trademark office to protect your idea. Don’t use Facebook to ask others’ opinions on a company name because another member on Facebook can easily steal it.
Another mistake Cora commonly sees is business owners using legal contract templates or using outdated contracts. Since the law changes, you’ll want to get your legal contracts updated every year to protect yourself and your company. “I see people sitting in a place of stagnation where their law or legal protection in their business has not matured alongside their strategic elements.”
Wise Company and Wise Council
“There’s a difference between wise company and wise counsel. I think you need both.”
She defines a wise company as your biz besties.
“Those are the people who are with you in the trenches, and you can turn to them and ask them questions.”
Wise counsel is someone who’s a mentor that can guide you along your journey.
Two Legal Components Every Business Owner Should Have
Cora recommends two major elements that business owners should have locked and loaded.
First, you’ll want to secure a great accountant, and you need to have a good attorney.
The Importance of Leveraging Your IP
Have you leveraged your intellectual property? That’s an important key item to think about because you can pass down your IP from one generation to the next. This creates an asset that can be licensed and used for recurring income.
“We need to look at what we built and say, how can I leverage this appropriately?”
Creating Contracts for Clients
She recommends using contracts when dealing with a client, especially if they’re going to pay you money. Ensure your agreement has terms and conditions that are updated on your website. Additionally, make sure that your contract covers what people can expect when they’re coming into your program and also covers your IP policy and privacy rights. Finally, it’s essential to make sure that people sign the agreement you have in place.
Another way you can protect yourself is to make sure you have your hired personnel, whether they’re an independent contractor or an employee, sign a work contract so they can’t legally use your intellectual property.
No matter how small your business is or how new your idea is, make sure you take the steps needed to protect your trademark and IP. Be careful whom you share your information with, and always get your contracts updated annually to give yourself the best protection you can receive for your business!