Protecting ideas

Branding

Are You Protecting your Brand with a Federal Trademark? Here's How to Get Started

Your business' brand is one of your most valuable assets -- and it can be protected more easily than you may think.

Starting a Business

How New, Small Business Owners Can (and Should) Be Protecting Their Brand

Your new business is your baby, after all. Don't you want to protect your baby?

Buying / Investing in Business

4 Steps to Better Protect Your Ideas

Brainpower is good. Brainpower you own is far better.

Growing a Business

The 7 Steps of Effective Product Development

Take your product from killer concept to cash cow.

Fundraising

Why VCs Don't Sign NDAs and You Shouldn't Worry About It

Nondisclosure agreements are not the magic cloak many entrepreneurs imagine and often are simply counterproductive.

Business Ideas

Non-Disclosures Can Protect Your Idea, or Destroy It

Here are six considerations of when to sign an agreement with investors or other interested parties.

Money & Finance

Protect your Partnership With a Buy-Sell Agreement

Learn more about these critical agreements that define value and buy-out procedures when one someone leaves a partnership.

Growing a Business

3 Things Every Entrepreneur Should Know About Patent Risk

For startups, patent trolls can be a major headache. Make sure you remain abreast of patent risk to avoid litigation with trolls.

Innovation

What Sochi Can Teach Us About Trademarks

When it was announced that Sochi would be the home of the 2014 Olympics, the International Olympic Committee jumped into motion, filing numerous trademark applications to protect the Olympic brand. While your startup doesn't have the global presence of the Olympics, here are some tips on how to protect your brand.

Innovation

5 Steps to Safeguard Your Product From Patent Theft

Filing a patent isn't enough to protect your idea. It's important to consider how competitors might find a way around your patent and take action in advance. Here's how.

Social Media

Pinterest Reaches Two Startup Milestones: One Good, One Bad

Pinterest gets sued, Facebook adds voice messaging to mobile apps, why Indonesia is ground zero for Twitter use and more social-media news.

Legal

Why Tech 'Treps are Up in Arms over the PROTECT IP Act

Tech entrepreneurs have lambasted a new bill that they say could stifle startups and innovation. Here's what you need to know about the PROTECT IP Act.