Patent ownership dispute is a common issue in the world of business. A patent is a legal document that gives inventors the right to make and sell their invention for up to 20 years. Governments issue patents, usually in exchange for an inventor disclosing what's been...
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Thomas Whitelaw Legal Blog
Adverse possession in the state of California
Have you ever thought that someone could legally steal your land? If you own property within the second-largest city in the country, Los Angeles, or anywhere else in California, you should be wary of the state's adverse possession laws. They specify when your land...
New real estate laws in California
The state of California has enacted several new laws in 2021 that are aimed at boosting home ownership and expanding the supply of rental houses. However, as expected, the laws affect most of the stakeholders in the real estate sector: landlords, renters and potential...
What are significant causes of partnership disputes in Irvine, CA?
Most of the corporations and companies in California are formed through partnerships. These relationships are born when two or more professionals with the same vision and goals team up and start a business. Forming a partnership can be simple, as it does not require a...
What is involved in a trademark infringement claim?
A trademark is a type of intellectual property, and it can be any word, symbol, design, phrase or combination of items that helps the consumer identify goods and services quickly. Typically, manufacturers or business owners use trademarks to represent their goods and...
What are the rights to an employee’s patent in California?
A patent is a type of intellectual property that protects a specific type of discovery or invention that is useful, non-obvious and novel. The inventor gains exclusive rights to the invention for a designated period or before assigning the patent to another party. If...
Patent developments in the autonomous vehicle sector
The race to achieve fully autonomous vehicles is channeling major automotive, optics, micro-processing, software, and GPS companies into a concentrated and competitive technological space. Patents are increasing exponentially and lawsuits are on the rise. The reasons...
Self-driving cars and the law
With every new technology comes new laws. One emerging technology with strong legal implications is the self-driving or autonomous vehicle. While fully self-driving cars are not yet common, manufacturers have implemented many autonomous features, including lane drift...
Severance package basics in California
A severance package, also known as a severance agreement, is a contract made by a departing employee and their employer. In the agreement, the employee agrees not to sue their employer for wrongful termination. In exchange, the employer gives the employee a severance...
Common disputes between franchisors and franchisees
Starting your own business can produce some of the most rewarding feelings you could experience, but it requires a lot of work. Many problems can arise. One way you might leverage the business experience of another, opening a franchise location, provides you with many...