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How Patents and Trademarks Increase the Value of Your Company

Once at the SHOT show the owner of a particular company took me aside, and walked me a good distance from his booth. He didn’t come right out and say it. He hemmed and hawed a bit about the future of his company. He talked about making his business more valuable. I finally figured out what he was asking: “So, you want to sell your company down the road, and do what you can now to maximize the selling price then, right?” “Right!” He told me he’d been in the industry his whole adult life, loved the business, but was going to be ready to retire or move on to  [...]

By Ben Langlotz | June 22, 2015 | Business, Firearms, Firearms Industry Advice, How To, Intellectual Property Advice | 0 Comments Read More »

“Loaded” Baby Names: The Rising Value of Firearms Trademarks

It’s inevitable. Newlyweds who plan eventually to start a family will start talking about baby names. I find the statistical trends interesting. How a girl’s name like “Brittany” can go from trendy, to commonplace, to a “stripper” name (apologies to those with loved ones with this name). So I was fascinated to learn about one of the newest trends in baby names: Firearms trademarks! Source: babynamewizard.com   According to a recent report in the Daily Beast:  [...]

By Ben Langlotz | June 8, 2015 | Firearms, Humor, Opinion Pieces | 0 Comments Read More »

A Peek At Your Competition’s Firearms Trademark Strategy

Every month, I personally review every trademark filing made in the firearms industry. In this post I’m going to share some of the secrets I learn from such a snoop, in this case, one from a little over a year ago. In April 2014, there were 121 trademark applications filed in the international class that includes firearms and fireworks. Incidentally, fireworks trademark can be fun. Because trademarks apply only to your goods and services and not to unrelated goods, you might get some good ideas from fireworks trademarks. (I also think that historic military equipment  [...]

By Ben Langlotz | June 1, 2015 | Business, Firearms, Firearms Industry Advice, Intellectual Property Advice, Trademark | 0 Comments Read More »

Patent Micro Entity Risks

Good news! You might qualify for reduced patent fees under new patent laws, thanks to a “gift” from Congress to small inventors. The bad news is that it might be too risky to enjoy the benefit. In a change in the patent laws, Congress created a “Micro Entity” status that provides reduced fees for the smallest inventors and start-up companies. Before, there were “Large Entities”  [...]

By Ben Langlotz | May 25, 2015 | Business, Firearms, Intellectual Property Advice, Legal News | 0 Comments Read More »

What Entrepreneurial Teens Need to Know About Patents and Trademarks

My Rotary Club has a wonderful program that teaches talented teenagers all about how to start a business. It’s a weekend “camp” where teams of teens come up with business ideas, develop business plans, and pitch their idea to “investors” who judge their work. If you’ve ever seen “Shark Tank” on tv, it’s just like that. Except these are kids, the “investors” are volunteers like me, and no money actually changes hands.  [...]

By Ben Langlotz | May 18, 2015 | Business, Firearms, Intellectual Property Advice, Patent, Trademark | 0 Comments Read More »