United States Patent & Trademark Office www.uspto.gov
The United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) is the federal agency that processes and issues trademarks and patents. The USPTO provides a good starting point to get familiar with trademark issues. For non-attorneys, the most helpful section may be under, Trademarks/Trademark Basics. The searches available on the site are basic and not as thorough as what attorneys conduct to clear your trademark.
The Business Programs section is a great resource to learn more about California corporations, LLCs and partnerships, including forms, filing fees and laws. Use an attorney to file your forms and draft the agreements necessary to complete the formation of your company.
If you’re unsure about the legal terminology you come across, try searching Wikipedia for easy-to-read explanations. While it’s a good place to start, note that the information is not always reliable.
The U.S. Copyright Office’s site provides facts and forms relating to U.S. Copyright registration. You can apply for your own copyrights online at this site. Their informational circulars are very helpful: on their website, click on Publications to find them.
Use this site to see if there’s anyone else in Los Angeles County (if that’s where your business is located) who might prevent you from using the business name you want. If someone is using the name you want, consider consulting an attorney to discuss your best options, which might include coming up with another name. Note that the data may not be current.
Go to this site if your business is located in the city of Los Angeles (only certain areas—see the site for more information) and click on “Apply for a Business Tax Registration Certificate”. This certificate is what people often call your “Business License”, and you need it to operate your business in certain areas of the city of Los Angeles. If you fail to get this Business Tax Registration Certificate, you may be liable for fees, fines and penalties.
This is the creator and keeper of UPC bar codes. You can visit their site to obtain bar codes for your products, bar codes that are now frequently required by many retailers.
See the FDA’s website to learn more about important product labeling requirements. Popular subjects to search are listed to the upper left corner. Some of my clients are in the cosmetics business. If you are, you may find the Cosmetics section useful.
See this site for information about motion pictures, television programs, actors, directors, producers, and other above-the-line and below-the-line talent.
Note: I do not receive any compensation for providing any of the above links.
