Are All Contracts Legally Binding?
Are all contracts legally binding? That’s a great question. The answer is yes, so long as you tick off all the little boxes in the elements that make up a contract. In other words, there are certain factors that make up a valid contract. If you stick around to the end, you will learn something … Continue reading →
What Year to Put On Your Website Copyright Notice
It’s a new year, and here’s a question I get asked a lot. And that question is, “What year should I put on my website copyright notice?” You know, that little copyright notice at the bottom of your website that says “copyright, blah, blah, blah?” Well, I’m going to give you the answer in this … Continue reading →
3 Mistakes to Avoid When Running a Giveaway (Legally)
If you’re running a giveaway on Instagram or elsewhere online, you must do it legally! Let’s talk about the three biggest mistakes that I see when people are running giveaways on social media. Mistake #1: Creating an Accidental Lottery Okay, so the first big mistake is accidentally creating a lottery. What the heck do I … Continue reading →
The #1 Trademark Registration Requirement for Online Brands
Curious about trademark registration requirements in the US? Today we’re talking about the number one most important thing that you need in order to file for federal trademark protection in the US. I’m going to cut to the chase, the number one most important thing that you need in order to successfully register your trademark … Continue reading →
The Trademark Registration Process in 5 Steps
Jump in with me today where we are talking about the trademark registration process in five steps. Step 1: The Search. You must do a trademark clearance search. For me, the trademark registration process begins with a search 98% of the time. Every once in a blue moon, a client really really really does not … Continue reading →
Legally Protectable Parts of a Blog
Curious about the legally protectable parts of a blog? Read on to learn a little more about copyright protection for a blog and trademarks for bloggers. Blog Name This is kind of an easy one, right? It is the name by which all of your readers recognize your work, your blog, and a name. Of … Continue reading →
Disclosure Rules on Social Media
In this quick read, you’re going to learn when to post a disclosure along with your social media post. (Hint: disclosures aren’t just for traditional sponsored posts.) You’ll also learn what makes for a good disclosure. When do I need to follow disclosure rules on social media? So, the very quick, very short answer to … Continue reading →
How Apple’s New Privacy Rules are a Good Thing for Influencers
I was probably unreasonably geeked when I saw that Apple’s new privacy rules that are rolling out in the fall of 2020. In this short post, you’re going to have an understanding of what Apple’s new privacy practices are, how they will affect the online space and why it’s a good thing for content creators. … Continue reading →
Protecting a Content-Based Business, Part 3: Content You Can Copyright
This is the third and final part of my three-part series on protecting a content-based business. In Part One, we talked about the prerequisites for copyright protection. In Part Two, we talked about making sure that you own that stuff. And here’s part three, where I’m going to list off a bunch of content you … Continue reading →
Protecting a Content-Based Business, Part 2: How to Make Sure You Own Your Content
This is part two in a three-part series on protecting your content based business. (This was part one.) I’m talking about how to make sure that you own your content. Make Sure You Own Your Content by Actually Creating It Yourself The first way to make sure that you own your content: create it yourself. … Continue reading →
Protecting a Content-Based Business, Part I: 3 Prerequisites for Copyright Protection
You really should know the prerequisites for copyright protection in the US. But first, let’s talk about protecting content. A lot of content, like online videos, long form blog posts, micro-blogging, podcast episodes, or some combination of those things. This is a three part series that’s going to break down: The three things you need … Continue reading →
Tik Tok: Terms of Use You Didn’t Read
Terms of Use You Didn’t Read is back and this month I’m looking at Tik Tok’s Terms of Use. By the end of this post, you’ll have a better idea of the terms that you agree to by using Tik Tok, what data they’re really using to track you, and how it compares to other … Continue reading →