Navigating copyright law correctly is critical if you want to protect your creative works, but doing so is often complicated and rarely straightforward. For example, copyright law automatically protects an author's written work from the first draft; however, an artist must register certain finish...
Blog
Redlands Commercial Lawyer Shares 4 Ways Your Business Could Benefit from Releasing a Mobile App
Businesses in the Digital Age must have a legitimate Web presence in order to gain consumers' trust. Your website doesn't have to be flashy, but a strong Web presence can make your company appear credible and established. While a single, stagnant webpage might have been enough five years ago, c...
Our lost team member
January 28, 2019. It is with a very heavy heart that we announce the death today of our Paralegal and, for all intents and purposes, our right arm, Tiffany Smith-Daughtery. Never boring, often vivacious, and fiercely determined are only some of the appropriate adjectives to describe Tiffany. Her ...
My Photograph Was Used for Commercial Purposes without My Approval
It's no secret that California is home to famous actors, playwrights, musicians and just about every other type of entertainer. Unfortunately, having worldwide renown comes with certain drawbacks. If your image is well-known to the general population – or even to a niche market – then photograp...
Is It Legal for Paparazzi to Use Drones in California?
Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, have grown incredibly popular in recent years. We see them almost everywhere now, being used for commercial and entertainment purposes. According to The Economist, their sudden ubiquity has prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to establish mandatory sa...
Is an LLC the Right Structure for My Business?
Whether you're purchasing a business or starting a new venture, you will have to choose a structure for your company. There are partnerships, sole proprietorships and corporations. Of these, we must often get requests to form what is called a “business entity” Three common options are the S-Corp...
Independent Contractors vs. Employees – What’s the Difference in California?
If you own a business in California, there are several benefits to hiring independent contractors instead of employees. According to the Department of Industrial Relations, employers do not have to pay payroll taxes for independent contractors or provide meal periods. They also do not have to pro...
How to Choose a Contract Lawyer in California
Are you about to negotiate a sports, entertainment , or employment contract? You may already know that contract negotiations are financially and legally complicated, so how would you know if you're getting a fair deal? One of the smartest steps you can take to gain an edge in contract talks is ...
How Should I Prepare for Sports Contract Negotiations?
With Kevin Durant stunning the NBA with his exit from the Oklahoma City Thunder and defection to the Golden State Warriors, it seemed like a good time to take a look at contract negotiations in sports. Recently, a professional sports team drafted one of our clients and we found ourselves looking ...
Goodbye 2014. Hello to new Business Laws in 2015
We want to wish you all a happy and healthy New Year. Please be safe out there and remember, don't take the breathalyzer in California. As we leave one year, the great state of California has some important changes coming in 2015. Today we will focus on some of the new law bound to have an impact...
Can I Sue a Radio Station for Playing My Music without My Consent?
It's no secret that the Internet has had both a positive and a negative impact on the music industry over the past two decades. Indeed, while fans today love the accessibility of all their favorite albums, even the most popular musicians are struggling to get the compensation they deserve. You ...
Buying a Business? Here are 4 Common Mistakes to Avoid
Buying a business is an exciting decision, but one small oversight can lead to financial turmoil and legal problems. This is why it is essential to consult a commercial lawyer before signing the offer. Business devices and documents at the workplace, unrecognized businesspeople sharing the idea...
Bureau of Cannabis Control takes action against unlicensed cannabis business disguised as a church
When people talk about getting high on the Lord, this probably not what they had in mind. The Bureau of Cannabis Control (Bureau) and the Department of Consumer Affairs' Division of Investigation-Cannabis Enforcement Unit (DOI-CEU), in coordination with the Costa Mesa Police Department and local...
Thoughts on Blockchain in Bankruptcy: Why new technology may not remove the middleman anytime soon.
By: Sean Cork, E.D.A. Law. The National Law Journal published an excellent piece recently titled Blockchain – Not Bitcoin – In Bankruptcy, by Joanne Lee Molinaro at Foley & Lardner LLP. This is a unique and thought-provoking piece that I encourage anyone interested in blockchain technology to re...
Bad acts often lead to bad laws
Since we have been involved in addressing the problems for both victims and those accused of “revenge porn” we get a lot of news regarding what is going on around the nation on this topic. As we expected, having not done anything to anticipate the problem, state governments have been inundated wi...
Are You Hiring a Web Developer for Your Business? 4 Tips from a Redlands Commercial Attorney
A strong digital presence is a must if you want your company to thrive in today's modern world, and the Web developer you hire could make or break your outreach capabilities. Like most services in business, you tend to get what you pay for when it comes to Web developers – if you're lucky, that i...
ACLU Film Series provides guidance on your rights when dealing with ICE
Let us get this out of the way quickly. We are not an Immigration law firm. Immigration is not a substantial part of our practice. But fighting abusive government practices indeed is. While every nation has the right to control its' borders and entries, once it has created a system of rights, it ...
3 Tips for Protecting Yourself
If you want to take out a small business loan to get your company off the ground, chances are the bank will ask for a personal guarantee. When you sign a personal guarantee, you are essentially putting your own assets up as collateral in case your business cannot pay back the debt. Inc. reminds r...
Are You Considering Accepting Venture Capital Money? We look at the Pros and Cons
One of the greatest hurdles that most new businesses face is a lack of capital, so when a venture capital firm comes along and wants to invest, it could feel like a godsend. Like any business deal, though, there are both advantages and disadvantages of accepting venture capital money. If you wa...