Cruz Law, PLLC

Dedicated representation, personal service and quality results

Make sure you protect your brand: Seahawks, Lynch ensure success for future

For most Seahawks fans, we would like to forget the last Seahawk offensive play of Super Bowl XLIX. It was a great game, but horrible way for the season to end. Rest assured, it looks like the Hawks could make another run next season. As for the business side of the Seahawks franchise; it is booming. In fact, the Seahawks have filed a number of trademarks to ensure that it capitalizes on its recent success. While some of the applications may not succeed such as its attempt to trademark the number “12,” securing trademark protection is an important way to ensure that you protect your business.

Seahawk running back Marshawn Lynch filed several trademarks pertaining to his own personal brand including the phrase, “I’m here so I won’t get fined.” This was the phrase Lynch repeated again and again at NFL Media Day during the Super Bowl this year. Lynch will likely use the term to sell apparel for his “Beast Mode” brand.

While most business owners may not have as profound marks as the Seahawks or Lynch, the protection of trademarks is an important part of a business.

If you have any trademark issues, please do not hesitate to contact me.

New LLC law helps streamline conversion process

In 2014, Washington State passed Senate Bill 5999, a law which addresses corporate entity conversions, passed the state senate (97-0) and was signed by Governor Jay Inslee into law.  The law streamlines the conversion process and allows for an easier and cost-effective method. Domestic entities will be able to change their state of incorporation and/or their entity type.

Previously, these changes would entail the entity receiving a new UBI number and new date of incorporation.
Essentially, the law allows for entities to convert to LLC status and from an LLC status.  After a conversion, the organization remains the same with respect to its holding in real estate and other property, debts, liability and other obligation and any lawsuits that may have been previously filed against the organization.  Thus, conversion does not negate any of the organization’s previous responsibilities.

If you would like to more about this, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Crowdfunding comes to Washington State

This year Washington State passed a crowdfunding bill which allows small businesses to raise funds through equity crowdfunding.

The new law is found in Chapter 460-99c in the Washington Administrative Code and is enacted “to assist Washington start-up companies in accessing capital in small securities offerings through equity crowdfunding,” according to the first subsection of the chapter.

The idea is based upon crowdfunding sites like Indiegogo and Kickstarter which have funded individuals and their businesses or projects.  Essentially, these campaigns run through these sites and can fund various campaigns and those that contribute get the promise of material goods which vary depending on the amount donated to a campaign.

The Washington law differs from these crowdfunding sites as the new state law allows state-based businesses to raise money through crowdfunding and incentivize people with stock in the company.

For more information on this and ways to ensure your intellectual property rights are protected when utilizing this law, please contact me.

Discussing legal issues in MMA

I was recently on a live Q&A Chat with New York sports aficionado Tony Illiakostas on his web show Law and Batting Order.  We discussed a variety of legal topics from the professional MMA ban in New York state, to PED use to the viability of a fighter union.  It was a great discussion.  I invite you to take a look.