AI and IP
With the use of artificial intelligence increasing rapidly, it raises many questions in the legal world of intellectual property. Does AI generated work have copyright protection? Who owns the work? Does it infringe on others? While there have been lawsuits surrounding the issue, the courts and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) have not had much of an opportunity to tackle the issue of whether legislation is needed to clarify the Copyright Act to include language surrounding generative AI. Currently under the Copyright Act, protection applies only to works created by human beings. With AI being able to create many different things such as code, images, and even entire websites, questions around AI being used to create copyrightable work is becoming a big question that needs to be answered. As of now, the courts have not decided whether AI authored works will be entitled to this protection nor…
Read MoreSo you have an idea and want to start a business?
Trying to navigate the massive amounts of information available can be extremely overwhelming. Here are a few things you may want to contemplate when considering starting a business. To start, creating a business plan and selecting the location in which you plan to run your business are helpful. Different jurisdictions have different laws that regulate your new business. It is most common to choose the state in which you will be primarily conducting business. Next, creating a mission statement and goals as to what the business wishes to accomplish are important in creating your personal “brand”. It also allows for you to share your vision for the business, your purpose in creating the business, and lastly the core values that your business holds and that guide the decision-making. One of the most important steps is to decide on the type of business structure you wish to create. Depending on which…
Read MoreMeet Kaylee Faw, Elliott Millner, and Andrew Slaughter, Fall 2023 SBEC Student Attorneys!
Hi! My name is Kaylee Faw and I am currently a 3L at Elon University School of Law. I am originally from Trinity, North Carolina. In 2020, I received a BA in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Outside of law school, I am a lover of literature and all things sports – go Heels! In my time at Elon Law I have completed a residency-in-practice and summer internship at the North Carolina Court of Appeals, served as a research assistant for the North Carolina Pattern Jury Instruction Committee, and completed various research projects alongside my professors. I am also a proud member of the Elon Law Moot Court Board, and currently serve as the Managing Editor for We the People – Elon Law’s Constitutional Law Journal. I am most interested in transactional practice in business or corporate law. I am thrilled to be working…
Read MoreMeet Aubrey May and Fran Nebel – Fall 2023 Small Business Clinic Student Attorneys!
Hi! My name is Francine Nebel, and I am a 3L at Elon University School of Law. I grew up in South Florida but have lived in Tennessee, and Georgia as well. I graduated from Middle Tennessee State University majoring in Political Science and Leadership. While at Elon Law, I have been apart of Elon’s Inaugural Constitutional Law Journal as a Notes & Comments Editor, served as an Academic Fellow, am a member of the Business Law Association and participated in the Innocence Project. In the Future I would like to work within Real Estate Transactions and other areas of Business Law. I am very excited to be a part of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Clinic this Trimester, especially because of the great real world experience it offers. The clinic does such a great job of offering meaningful services to the local community and businesses alike. My name…
Read MoreMeet Kree Small and Morgan Ashmore: Fall 2023 SBEC Student Attorneys!
Hi! My name is Kree Small. I am a 3L here at Elon University School of Law. I’m from Tappahannock, Virginia. I graduated from the University of Mary Washington where I studied Political Science. After law school, I plan to work in corporate law, focusing mainly in the contract area. While at Elon, I have worked as a Law Library Clerk, Admissions Ambassador, and Themis Bar Representative. I have had the opportunity to do my residency-in-practice at the Office of General Counsel and Institutional Integrity at the University of North Carolina Greensboro and over the summer, intern for a Biotechnology company in their contract department. I am excited to be working as a Student Attorney at the Small Business and Entrepreneur Clinic during my final semester at Elon to allow me to gain the practical experience necessary to work in the business-related field while being able to help the community…
Read MoreThe Corporate Transparency Act and Beneficial Ownership Reporting
“I don’t want to use my personal address.” – common words heard by any attorney or legal intern that helps individuals form entities. Not disclosing one’s actual address has allowed for additional privacy and peace of mind for the common business owner. And for the longest time, this has been an understandable request where privacy becomes less and less common. However, beginning in 2024 a new reporting requirement will come into effect under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/87-FR-59591. Providing Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) will require small business owners no choice but to report their complete current residential street address, along with their date of birth, full legal name, and unique identification number. The CTA was implemented to fight money laundering. By reporting this information, Congress hopes to weed out anyone who could contribute to money laundering or anyone who gives money to terrorist organizations. The reporting is to be…
Read MoreUnleashing Entrepreneurial Potential: Greensboro Chamber of Commerce Launch Lab Demo Day 2023
Entrepreneurship has long been a driving force behind economic growth and innovation. In Greensboro, North Carolina, the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce has been playing a vital role in fostering entrepreneurship through its Launch Lab program. The Greensboro Chamber of Commerce Launch Lab is an incubator and accelerator program designed to support aspiring entrepreneurs in turning their ideas into thriving businesses. The program offers a comprehensive range of resources, including mentorship, workspace, educational workshops, and networking opportunities. Through its commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration, the Launch Lab has become a catalyst for entrepreneurial growth in Greensboro. This year, on Demo Day 2023, the entrepreneurial community gathered to witness an inspiring showcase of talent, ideas, and business potential. On Demo Day 2023, the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce brought together a vibrant community of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts to celebrate the culmination of months of hard work and dedication. The event…
Read MorePurple Rain on Warhol’s Parade
For any business owners making a living off of their art and creations, the latest Supreme Court ruling on Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. v. Goldsmith is worth reading about. Last week, on May 18, 2023, the Court published its decision as to whether a silkscreen painting done by renowned 1960’s pop-artist, Andy Warhol, infringed upon celebrity photographer, Lynn Goldsmith’s copyright. The story begins in the 1980’s when one of Goldsmith’s portraits of Prince was licensed to Warhol to create a painting for a magazine, the licensing of which allowed for only one use of the photo. Warhol then went on to make his “Prince Series,” which was a total of 16 various images of Prince based off the initial Goldsmith photo but varying in color. After Warhol’s death, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts assumed ownership of his work. In 2016, following Prince’s death,…
Read MoreSBEC attends Shift_ed Event!
Last week the student attorneys at the clinic were invited to Lawyer’s on the Lawn in Lebauer Park in Downtown Greensboro co-hosted by the Young Lawyers Section and Shift_ed. This was a happy hour networking event for lawyers within the Greensboro Bar Association and the YLS. Snacks, drinks, and good conversation were had by all who attended. Student Attorneys had the pleasure to meet with Shit_ed President and CEO Wendy Poteat to discuss Shift-ed’s mission. Shift_ed is a non-profit organization that operates using an equity-based model to support students with the greatest needs in the Guilford County School Systems. This was a wonderful opportunity to help support a good cause. We would encourage anyone with the capacity to do so to learn more about Shift_ed and their mission and support them in anyway possible. For help with your small business needs, contact the clinic at businessclinic@elonl.edu.
Read More‘W.E. Do’ Women in Entrepreneurship Conference: The Impact of Female-Led Businesses
Last week, the student attorneys at Elon’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Clinic attended the online ‘W.E. Do’ Women Entrepreneurs presentation featuring three inspiring change-makers: Mary Gunn, CEO of Topia Life Sciences and Board Director Ann Arnold, CFO of H. Arnold Wood Turning and Co-Founder of the Mark Schonwetter Holocaust Education Foundation Ricki Fairley, CEO and Co-Founder of Touch, the Black Breast Cancer Alliance According to the World Economic Forum, “women made up 47% of US entrepreneurs starting businesses in 2022, compared with 29% prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.” Great growth has occurred in encouraging, empowering, and assisting females to dive into the entrepreneurship space. In another article looking at the success female-owned business, Forbes reported on findings that businesses owned by women had earnings increase by 27% compared to a 22% increase in earnings from male-owned businesses. According to another article by Score, women are more likely to own a…
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