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My Reply to The Guy Who Asked: “WHY SHOULD I HIRE YOU AND NOT LEGALZOOM?”

Most people aren’t afraid to invest in what they need, but few people want to learn later that they overpaid, or didn’t get a good value.  So even though it’s the first time I’ve been asked the question, I can understand why a careful entrepreneur would ask it.  He’s simply asking: “Please tell me why I’m not a sucker to pay you what seems like ten times what LegalZoom is charging.” LegalZoom is the big web-based law firm, and they probably file more trademarks per year than any other firm.  They’re so big they’ve been buying up other companies,  [...]

By Ben Langlotz | January 8, 2024 | Business, Intellectual Property Advice, Opinion Pieces, Trademark | 0 Comments Read More »

SHOT Show Legal Prep Checklist

As we approach the SHOT Show, it’s important to get your legal ducks in a row, to be sure you aren’t losing valuable rights, or weakening the rights you already have.  Time is short so action may be urgent, but the action needed may be simpler, faster, and cheaper than you think. Pre-SHOT Patent Advice Preserve your patent rights.  The best NDA is a pending patent application.  It lets you talk about (or sell) your invention without worrying that someone who hears you will file their own.  You don’t need to file a formal patent application on every possible  [...]

By Ben Langlotz | December 11, 2023 | Business, Firearms, Firearms Industry Advice, Intellectual Property Advice, Patent, Trademark | 0 Comments Read More »

HOW HOLLYWOOD KILLS DOZENS EVERY YEAR AND OUR INDUSTRY GETS THE BLAME

Even though I’ve been a full-time industry professional for over twenty years, few people realize that I came to firearms later in life.  Believe it or not, the first time I ever actually ever fired a firearm was after I received my law degree (33 years ago).  Of course, that meant that my enthusiasm (and buying habits) roared like a wildfire, and I caught up fast.  Way back 22 years ago, I was simply excited at the idea of working for some firearms industry companies, just because of the free stuff and good deals I might get.  Since then, it turns out that I'm like  [...]

By Ben Langlotz | November 8, 2023 | Firearms, Opinion Pieces | 0 Comments Read More »

HOW TO BE A SMART PATENT INVESTOR

The True Cost of Patent Protection, and an Ideal Tool to Make Even Smarter Patent Investment Decisions In response to the latest newsletter, one reader wrote me to ask about when it makes financial sense to invest in a patent: As an aside, an interesting article for a future Bulletproof newsletter might be a discussion of when a patent makes financial sense (and importantly, when it does not).  I have filed more than a few patent applications of my own, many of which failed to be granted, and all but one of which didn’t “pay off.”  I once came up with a cool  [...]

By Ben Langlotz | October 4, 2023 | Business, Intellectual Property Advice, Opinion Pieces, Patent | 0 Comments Read More »

HOW TO FIRE YOUR LAWYER

I'm taking a little risk with this month’s topic, considering that each and every one of my clients reads this newsletter, along with hundreds of firearms industry company owners and leaders.  But I'm willing to risk telling my clients just how, why, and when to change attorneys so that everyone can learn the benefits and the process of transitioning to the right attorney for you. A relationship with your lawyer is a little like a marriage.  When it’s great, everyone’s happy.  When there are rough spots, the smart folks work hard to make things work (for  [...]

By Ben Langlotz | September 7, 2023 | Business, Firearms Industry Advice, Intellectual Property Advice, Opinion Pieces | 0 Comments Read More »

HOW ONE GUN WITH A LOUSY TRIGGER EARNED ME A SMALL FORTUNE

  This story is getting long in the tooth (look at that patent date) but everyone seems to love it.  I like being able to say that I’m a firearms inventor, and am one of y’all.  I file a couple of patents each year on my own inventions, have a mediocre track record in getting them granted, and this one is the only one that has made me money.  Yet. How the Story of my Small Firearms Business Venture Provides Valuable Lessons to Any Firearms Business. I’m proud to reveal that I’m not just one of those guys who serves the firearms industry, because I  [...]

By Ben Langlotz | August 4, 2023 | Firearms | 0 Comments Read More »