LANSING - Michigan is facing dramatic challenges in our economy. Small business owners have a huge role to play in addressing these challenges and leading our state back to prosperity. When it comes to tax policy, we can't remain in our comfort zone any longer. Michigan is primed for fundamental tax reform. The Small Business
ANN ARBOR - Under Michigan's Single Business Tax (SBT), non-Michigan corporations are often able to use the SBT to achieve state tax benefits that cannot be obtained by Michigan corporations. These benefits are obtained through a subsidiary set-up to manage the company's intangibles, and especially intellectual properties such as trademarks, patents and copyrights, which are
TRAVERSE CITY - There are a few general rules of thumb to keep in mind when choosing a new mark. The mark should be short and distinctive, generally three syllables or less. The new mark should be easy to spell, pronounce and remember. The mark should not carry any negative connotations, either toward the new
DETROIT - Trade secret law may help to protect a business from the raiding of its customers by means of information theft. Yet, many people think only of the example, ?Coca Cola Formula,? when they hear of ?trade secrets.? In fact, though, trade secrets encompass far more than formulas and can include customer lists, customer
DETROIT ? A useful means of protecting your business from customer raiding or trade secret violations is a non-competition or non-solicitation agreement. These agreements bar employment at a competitor (non-compete) or at least bar solicitation or work for a set of customers (non-solicit). Non-competes: Generally, to be enforced in court, a non-competition agreement must be
DETROIT - Trade secret law protects a business from theft of a wide variety of confidential information. It also may protect a business from the raiding of its customers by means of such information theft. Yet, many people think only of the example, ?Coca Cola Formula,? when they hear of ?trade secrets.? In fact, trade
ANN ARBOR - The holiday shopping season is winding down this week. But you know Santa has a broadband connection at the North Pole (how else do you think Comcast gets away with always being so naughty?) so he?ll be shopping online right up to the last minute. And I bet he won?t be alone.
TRAVERSE CITY - In few other industries has the independent contractor arrangement flourished as it has in the tech sector. Programmers and network consultants hold themselves out as independent contractors on a work for hire basis. Employers look for workers on a project or task basis and, thus, are also motivated to look seriously at
DETROIT ? Our city gets a bad rap, but if you look at the positive attributes, Detroit has the makings to be one of the greatest large cities in America. Detroit is the host to many museums, downtown sculptures, large events, four major sports teams, and many other wonderful things that are often overlooked. Detroit
DETROIT ? Administering the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is enough to give even the most patient human resources professional a migraine. Faced with new and creative requests by employees for time off, employers are looking for guidance in navigating FMLA regulations pertaining to medical certification. One potential source of help could be a