April 11, 2026
Trademark Attorney vs. Online Filing Services
Filing a trademark looks simple on the surface. You pick a name, fill out some forms, pay a fee, and wait. That is the version you see in ads for online filing services. And to be…
Surge Business Law
Intellectual Property
Browse 30 articles tagged with Intellectual Property.
April 11, 2026
Trademark for Startup Founders | Surge Business Law
You have spent months picking the perfect name. You bought the domain. You designed the logo. You started building a customer base. Then one morning, an attorney's letter lands in…
March 20, 2026
Trademark Class 44: Medical, Beauty & Agricultural Services
When you build a brand around a medical practice, a beauty salon, or an agricultural consulting service, that brand deserves the same legal protection as any other business asset.…
March 20, 2026
Trademark Class 33: Wine, Spirits & Alcoholic Beverages
If you produce wine, craft spirits, whiskey, vodka, gin, rum, tequila, liqueur, or alcoholic cocktail mixers, your brand name and label design are business assets worth protecting…
March 20, 2026
Trademark Class 35: Business Services, Advertising & Retail
When you file a federal trademark application, one of the most consequential decisions you make is choosing the right class of goods or services. International Class 35 is one of…
March 20, 2026
Trademark Class 43: Restaurants, Bars, and Food Service
You have built something worth protecting. Maybe it is a barbecue joint in Austin that has a line out the door on Saturdays. Maybe it is a supper club outside Des Moines that has…
March 20, 2026
Federal vs. State Trademark: Which Does Your Business Need?
You have built your brand from scratch. The name on your sign, your logo, the way customers recognize you on sight. Now someone else is using it, or could start tomorrow. What sto…
March 20, 2026
How to Trademark Your Business Name, Logo, or Slogan
You have built something worth protecting. Your business name, logo, or slogan is not just a label. It is the shorthand for every good experience a customer has had with you. When…
March 20, 2026
Trademark Class 25: Clothing, Apparel & Footwear Brands
If you sell branded clothing, footwear, or headwear, your trademark application will almost certainly live in International Class 25. Getting the class right from the start matter…
March 20, 2026
Trademark Class 29: Food, Meat, Dairy and Eggs
If you produce meat, dairy, eggs, canned goods, or specialty food products, your brand name deserves protection. International Class 29 is the trademark category that covers most…
March 20, 2026
Trademark Class 9: Software, Apps, and Technology
If you build software, develop apps, sell electronic hardware, or distribute downloadable content, your brand likely needs protection under International Class 9. This is one of t…
March 20, 2026
Trademarking a Food or Agriculture Brand in Iowa
Iowa ranks among the nation's leading producers of pork, beef, dairy, and eggs, and that agricultural strength is increasingly showing up in consumer brands. From small-batch hot…
March 20, 2026
Trademark and IP for Franchisees: What You Own
When you buy a franchise, you are not buying a brand. You are buying the right to use a brand, under specific conditions, for a limited time. That distinction matters more than mo…
March 20, 2026
Got a USPTO Office Action? Here's What to Do Next
If you just received a letter from the USPTO about your trademark application, take a breath. An office action is not a denial, and it does not mean your brand is unprotectable. I…
March 20, 2026
Trademark Registration Cost: USPTO Fees and Payment Plans
You built something worth protecting. Your brand name, your logo, the identity you have spent months or years developing. Now you are wondering whether a trademark is worth the co…
March 20, 2026
Trademark Strategy for Austin Startups | Surge Business Law
Austin's startup scene moves fast. New companies launch every week, venture money flows in, and a brand that took months to build can become a liability overnight if someone else…
March 20, 2026
Trademark vs. Copyright vs. Patent: Which Does Your Business Need?
You have spent real time building your business. The name, the logo, the product, the process you figured out through trial and error. But when someone asks whether you have prote…
September 19, 2024
Understanding Sublicensing: What It Is and Why It Matters
What is a sublicense? When you have the right to use someone else’s work and you want to allow a different person or company to also use it, that is a sublicense. This is a legall…
September 13, 2024
Make Money from Your Ideas: A Guide to Intellectual Property Licensing and Assignments
You’ve invested heavily in your business – your brand, your processes, your ideas, and inventions… your intellectual property. These take time and money, and if others had access…
July 12, 2024
How to Collaborate the Right Way: Tips for Software Developers
Would you work with other collaborators without a partnership agreement? If you are a software developer working in collaboration with teams, here’s a word of caution - never get…
July 10, 2024
Do I Need to Copyright My Source Code?
When you create something, like a video, painting, or computer source code, it's automatically copyrighted. You’ve created it, so you have the right to limit how it is copied. But…
June 29, 2024
How to Protect Your Intellectual Property
Are you giving away your intellectual property without knowing it? Watch this video if intellectual property in source code catches your interest. https://youtu.be/L3w4LHw2GbQ Whe…
June 7, 2024
Difference Between Sub-Licensing and Assignment in Intellectual Property
Ever wondered about the differences between letting others use your ideas, giving them partial control, or handing over complete ownership? Let's break down sub-licensing and assi…
May 11, 2024
How to Know if Content is Available for Commercial Use?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LLEBGf7M7A It's a nightmare for creators to see their original work used without permission, but it happens frequently. Protections are in place f…
May 11, 2024
How Artists and Creators Benefit from Copyright Laws
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcUkFmux820 Can we use others' work to create our own without violating copyright? The answer is NO, however, there are exemptions to the rule. Cop…
May 9, 2024
How Understanding Fair Use Helps Creators
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcUkFmux820 Should I copyright my artwork, even if it has been used many times previously without my permission? We understand the struggle of orig…
January 11, 2024
What it's Like to Sell Your Business (Webinar Video)
Selling your business is exciting and scary. The dream of a big check captures many founders’ minds. Sadly, deals often fall through or are far more difficult than necessary. Matt…
August 9, 2023
4 Types of Intellectual Property: Securing Your Business Benefits
Did you know that finding success in today’s fiercely competitive business landscape requires protection of your ideas, inventions, and brand identity? These intangible assets, kn…
June 8, 2023
Emma's Enchanting Encounter: The Tale of a Trademark Triumph
Once upon a time in a quaint little town, there lived a passionate baker named Emma. Emma had spent years perfecting her recipes and dreaming of opening her bakery. After countles…
January 7, 2023
What intellectual property rights should business owners protect?
Define IP, IP types, and their differences, understand the benefits of IP protection, and discover how to get IP protection. What Intellectual Property Means Intellectual property…