Cleared Out Loud: Sheeran’s ‘Thinking’ Proven Original
Have you ever found yourself mistaking the song that was playing because the notes were too similar to another song? As a musician, your music is your own unique piece of art, but how unique is a song really? There are only a limited amount of notes at the disposal of artists and they can only be used in so many ways to harmonize with one another. Although lyrics and overall melodies in songs change, sometimes certain snippets of tunes are reused over and over by different artists and these snippets can sound familiar to another song you’ve already heard. In recent years, more and more music artists have been hit with lawsuits of copyright infringement. Some notable mentions include Queen & David Bowie’s Under Pressure vs. Vanilla Ice’s Ice Ice Baby; Miley Cyrus’ Flowers vs. Bruno Mars’ When I Was Your Man; or just as this time, Marvin Gaye’s…
Read MoreSmall Businesses should be aware of Google changing its Local Services Ads
Mark your calendars. On November 21, 2024, Google will be changing how its Local Services Ads work. In an effort to crack down on fraud, Google will only allow businesses with a verified Google Business Profile to run these ads. While verifying your Google Business Profile is easy, it does take some time to finalize. Local Services Ads are crucial to small businesses as they allow businesses to advertise services and products to local leads. These ads display hours of operation, customer reviews, and the geographic area that you serve. In contrast to regular Google ads, Local Service Ads appear at the top of Google Search Results and Google Maps to attract more customers. If you have a business that currently uses Google Local Services Ads but does not have a verified Google Business Profile, your ad may be paused until the verification process is complete. This could result in…
Read MoreHow the 2024 Election Could Shape the Future of Small Businesses: A Look at Harris and Trump’s Policies
As the 2024 U.S. election approaches, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have proposed policies targeting small businesses. Here’s a look at the potential pros and cons of each candidate’s plan, providing insights on how they might shape the small business landscape. Kamala Harris’s Small Business Policies Harris’s approach emphasizes increasing startup support and improving access for new businesses. She proposes raising the startup tax deduction from $5,000 to $50,000 and suggests deferring these deductions until the business reaches profitability, which could allow entrepreneurs to maximize tax savings and ease early-stage financial pressures. Harris has committed to directing one-third of federal contract dollars to small businesses. This plan includes expanding contract access for small businesses in rural and underserved areas, building on the Small Business Administration’s current goal of awarding 23% of prime government contracts to eligible small firms. Additionally, she aims to simplify occupational licensing requirements, which would reduce…
Read MoreHelene’s Impact on Small Businesses
Just before noon on September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Northern Florida as a category 4 hurricane, beginning its path of deadly destruction. Within 48 hours, Helene’s winds and floods left a path from Florida to the Southeastern Appalachian Mountains. The damage has left businesses across the southeastern United States devasted and highlighted their vulnerability to natural disasters. Some estimate that the damage across this region is approximately $250 billion. According to the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) Preliminary Damage and Needs Assessment, OSBM estimates that damage in North Carolina alone will exceed $53 billion. Businesses across the region now face immense financial pressure, emphasizing the need for recovery strategies and preparation as climate-related disasters increase in frequency and intensity. Retailers and service providers struggle with power outages and reduced consumer activity due to infrastructure damage. Manufacturing and distribution companies are experiencing major delays…
Read MoreThe Impact of the Port Strike on Small Businesses: A Looming Crisis
On Thursday, October 3rd, the International Longshoremen’s Association, representing 45,000 striking U.S. dockworkers at East and Gulf Coast ports, announced an agreement to suspend a three-day strike until January 15, 2025. This pause allows for further negotiations on a new contract. Although the immediate strike has been suspended, its potential repercussions for small businesses loom large should it resume in January. The initial strike, which began on October 2nd, already disrupted operations at ports, and a renewed strike could significantly impact businesses, particularly those with narrow profit margins. Experts caution that if the strike continues, it could lead to sharp price increases and shortages of essential goods, similar to the supply chain challenges experienced during the pandemic. Small businesses that rely on imported materials are especially at risk of facing higher costs. Manufacturers across various sectors should brace for the potential impact, as each week of a strike could noticeably…
Read MoreThe Tale of a Superhero and the Trademark that Got Away
For 57 years, Marvel Comics and DC Comics enjoyed the exclusive use of the word “Superhero” as a joint trademark. But that enjoyment quickly came to a halt on September 26th, 2024, when the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (“USPTO”) tribunal panel removed the word “Superhero” as a registered trademark. First, let’s start with, what is a trademark? A trademark is a symbol, word, or words legally registered or established by use of a particular company and identifies the goods or services. A trademark is issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”), and it provides legal protection for your brand to prevent fraud or counterfeiting. Briefly taking a glimpse into the past, the two comic giants have dominated the comic industry since 1954, publishing a majority of American comic, particularly those about superheroes. As time went on, they would attempt to purchase smaller publishers that would…
Read MoreMeet Joy Riebold, Rene Tobolski, and Sarah Fuller – Fall 2024 Student Attorneys!
Hello! My name is Joy Reibold. I am a current 3L at Elon University School of Law. I was born and raised in Indiana and attended Purdue University where I received my bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Before attending law school, I spent a year working as a secretary and legal assistant at a real estate law Firm in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. I then moved to North Carolina to pursue a career in law at Elon University. I am the President of Elon Law Fellowship of Christian Lawyers, and member of the Elon Moot Court Board, the Federalist Society, and Phi Alpha Delta, the law fraternity. Last year I was a Teaching Assistant for LMC and this year I am the Teaching Assistant for Evidence. In the Spring Semester, I was a Resident for Honorable Jeffery K. Carpenter at the North Carolina Court of Appeals where I reviewed appellate…
Read MoreMeet Shereena Kamal and Keira Connolly – Fall 2024 Student Attorneys!
Hello! My name is Shereena Kamal, and I am currently a 3L at Elon University School of Law. I earned my undergraduate degree from North Carolina State University, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration. Before and while at Elon Law, I gained hands-on experience in business operations, including LLC licensing and regulatory compliance. This included preparing Articles of Organization during LLC formations and managing the annual reporting requirements to maintain the company’s good standing. During my second year, I completed a residency in practice as an extern at Kontoor Brands, Inc., where I further developed my knowledge of trademark law. I worked closely with the legal team on trademark registration and enforcement, including conducting searches for potential conflicts and assisting with the preparation and filing of trademark applications. I am thrilled to be joining the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Clinic as a student attorney and look forward…
Read MoreMeet Fall 2024 Student Attorneys Kellyn Baker and William Shafer!
Hello! My name is Kellyn Baker, and I am currently a 3L at Elon University School of Law. I have moved around many times, but I claim Florida as my home and plan to return after graduating this December! Before starting at Elon, I attended the University of Mississippi for undergrad, where I obtained a Bachelor’s in Accounting, a Bachelor’s in Business Administration specializing in Global Supply Chain Marketing, and a Certificate in Manufacturing. This background is what inspired me to pursue a career in business law. After completing a capstone project where students were required to create a business and all business plans from the first idea to manufacturing to sales plans, I gained a great appreciation for what entrepreneurs and business owners go through to pursue their business dreams. Because of this, I wanted to pursue a career in which I was in the position to best assist…
Read MoreNot Like Us…But Similar to Us
vs. Revenge. Typically, a dish best served cold. But this revenge comes with a side of beef…and it’s piping hot. Over the past month, Grammy-award winning rappers Drake and Kendrick Lamar have lobbed unsavory insults and thrown vicious verbal jabs at one another through a series of diss tracks. What began as medium-rare beef has been rapidly overcooked, with mainstream media turning up the heat and propelling the feud into the public spotlight. While media moguls such as Fox and NBC have weighed in on the debate, social media influencers and online streamers have propelled the narrative around the beef to heights not seen in rap since the early 90’s and certainly not in the social media era. And all this is thanks to the protections of copyright law and the rights therein held by copyright owners. As social media and online streaming have started to monopolize the online media…
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