By Brian Reilly and Colin Coleman When starting a company, founders are immediately faced with a series of decisions, many of which will have long-lasting impacts that may not become apparent for months or years. Founders need to decide in which state to form their business entity, the type of business entity, and the specific...
USPTO Requires Non-US Trademark Applicants to Retain US-Licensed Attorneys The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced new rules that went into effect 3 August 2019. Under the new rules, all filings, including new applications and renewal applications, filed by a person or entity not domiciled in the U.S. must be filed by an attorney licensed to practice...
Two attorneys from the Providence office of Partridge Snow & Hahn (PS&H) were named “Lawyer of the Year” — Howard Merten and James H. Hahn, and another 12 attorneys from the Boston and Providence offices of PS&H were named Best Lawyers. All of the attorneys will be featured in The Best Lawyers in America, 2020 edition....
By Alicia J. Samolis On July 15, 2019, Rhode Island’s Governor signed into law the Rhode Island Noncompetition Agreement Act (the “Act”), limiting the enforceability of restrictive covenants with certain employees. Its limited applicability largely makes the law irrelevant, with a handful of critical exceptions. Unlike the Massachusetts law, there is no grandfathering provision – meaning agreements...
René Moniz is helping to spread the reach of GOTRRI in Bristol County, MA. Girls On The Run is a national organization with 200 councils in all 50 states, reaching young girls to help them develop self confidence, strength of character and healthy relationships. These life lessons are taught through movement and running, creating a lifelong love of...
As he did earlier this month, John E. Ottaviani once again provided his insight to World Trademark Review, analyzing the rollercoaster in filings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Earlier this month, John discussed the unprecedented surge in trademark filings in advance of a new USPTO rule that went into effect August 3....
John E. Ottaviani, Partner in the Intellectual Property & Technology Practice Group, contributed his insights to World Trademark Review on the “unprecedented” surge in trademark applications in advance of a new rule from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that goes into effect August 3. The rule requires all trademark applicants who are not domiciled in the...
By John E. Ottaviani One of the most common reasons U.S. trademark applications receive Office Actions is that the identification of goods and services covered by the application is indefinite or too broad. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) requires that the identification of products and services be very specific. This practice is different...
By Alicia J. Samolis & Geri Rosman 1. MEDICAL AND RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN THE WORKPLACE. Employers in the Northeast are faced with mounting questions arising from the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana. One challenge is handling compliance with drug-free workplace requirements associated with federal funding or contracts without discriminating against employees. Another involves the potential...
For years we have heard that alternative, renewable energy, including solar energy, is the future for America. Travelling by train from Amsterdam to Berlin, one sees numerous wind turbines producing renewable energy. Travelling by automobile in New England, one is beginning to see much the same although the projects tend to be solar and not...
