January 15, 2026 Hello Reader, Last week, I wrote about the invisible line most trademark owners cross without realizing it—the moment quiet assumptions replace active awareness. This week, I want to talk about one of the most common assumptions I hear. It usually sounds like this: “We’ll deal with it if there’s a problem.” On the surface, that sounds practical. Even responsible. After all, founders are trained to prioritize. You can’t chase every hypothetical risk. Time, money, and attention...
11 days ago • 2 min read
January 8, 2026 Hello Reader, There’s an invisible line in trademark law that most business owners cross without realizing it. Nothing dramatic happens when you cross it.No warning email.No letter from the USPTO.No cease-and-desist showing up in your inbox. In fact, most people cross this line feeling relieved. They’ve filed the application.They’ve paid the fee.They’ve checked the box. And then—almost without noticing—they shift into what I think of as quiet assumption mode. “I’ve done what I...
18 days ago • 2 min read
December 30, 2025 Hello Reader, As we wrap up the year and start looking toward 2026, I keep coming back to one of my favorite quotes: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” — Abraham Lincoln It’s simple, but it’s also one of the clearest pieces of advice an entrepreneur can live by. Because most people wait for the future to happen. They wait for: the right moment, the right revenue, the right team member, the right level of confidence, the right feeling of “now we’re ready.”...
27 days ago • 2 min read
December 23, 2025 Hello Reader, Some of my favorite Christmas memories aren’t about the gifts.They’re about the feeling in the house—quiet, warm, safe. As a parent, you do a lot behind the scenes to create that atmosphere: budgeting late-night wrapping planning little sacrifices Kids only see the gifts and the magic.They don’t see the decisions that made it possible. Entrepreneurs want that same feeling for their business:the peace of waking up and knowing things are protected. But many delay...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
December 18, 2025 Hello Reader, Earlier this month, one of my sons had a JV basketball game. Let’s just say it did not go the way anyone hoped. By the end of the game, the scoreboard wasn’t close. They’d lost by a wide margin. But the score wasn’t even the hardest part — it was everything around the game. Basketball Loss The refs missed a lot of fouls.A lot. There were clear pushes, reaches, and contact that just… weren’t called. And anyone who’s watched youth sports knows exactly how that...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
December 11, 2025 Hello Reader, Last week it finally snowed here. You know that first real snow of the season, when everything goes quiet and the whole street turns into a postcard? I was looking out the window and noticed the most perfect snowman going up a few houses down. It looked like something out of a movie—three perfectly stacked spheres, smooth sides, scarf just so, the little smile made of stones, carrot nose at the perfect angle. Later, when I drove past, there was even a tiny...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
December 1, 2025 Hello Reader, Most brand owners assume that because they paid for a logo, website, or product design — they automatically own it. Unfortunately, that’s not always true. In the trademark world, ownership isn’t determined by who paid the invoice — it’s determined by who controls the use and quality of the mark in commerce. And that’s where contractor and white-label relationships can get messy. Let’s say you hired a marketing agency to design your logo or a manufacturer to...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
November 24, 2025 Hello Reader, Rebranding can feel like changing the tires while the car’s still moving. You’ve built recognition around your old brand — but you know the new direction is stronger, cleaner, or better aligned with where your business is headed. The challenge? How do you make the switch without confusing your customers — or losing your trademark protection in the process? Here’s the safest way to do a side-by-side rebrand: Keep both brands active temporarily. Run your old and...
2 months ago • 1 min read
November 17, 2025 Hello Reader, When a trademark application gets refused, it’s not always because of the name.Sometimes it’s because of the specimen. The USPTO examiner isn’t just checking whether your name is unique — they’re looking for proof that your mark is being used the right way in commerce. Unfortunately, this is where many business owners stumble. A beautiful logo on your website or a product mock-up might look great to customers, but it doesn’t always meet the USPTO’s legal...
2 months ago • 1 min read