What do abbreviations such as TM, SM, PAT PEND, ©, ® actually mean? These symbols represent trademarks, patents and copyrights that provide certain legal rights and protections to their owner. They help safeguard a company's names, products, services, and designs. As an entrepreneur, you should determine if you need to pursue any of these options to ensure you properly protect what is referred to as the intellectual property of your small business. Trademarks are not the same as patents and copyrights, even though the differences are not widely understood. While there are similarities, they serve different purposes.
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Sandy Franklin Special to the Record-Eagle
Sandy Franklin: Protect intellectual property
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Some cities raid neighbors' jobs
When the leaders of a small Iowa city became desperate to land a new department store, they didn't have to look far: They lured one from the city next door, along with up to 100 jobs.
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Minority-owned cable networks starting
Comcast will launch four minority-owned networks on its cable-TV systems in the next two years, including channels spearheaded by music mogul Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and NBA great Magic Johnson.
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Greek bailout puts off disaster
A second, $172 billion bailout and a deep debt write-off for financially stricken Greece will ward off a financial disaster in Europe.
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Side air bags will undergo probe
Federal safety regulators are investigating a problem with side air bags that may fail to inflate in a crash.
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Oil hits 9-month high
Oil prices jumped to a nine-month high on Monday after Iran said it halted crude exports to Britain and France in an escalation of a dispute over the Middle Eastern country's nuclear program.
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Ex-Glock attorney accused of stealing
The vice president of Glock Inc. confessed nine years ago to the company's founder that he and another top lieutenant had been stealing millions from the gun maker.
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'CEO Summit' slated to discuss economy
An inaugural "Michigan CEO Summit" will be held in Detroit next month where more than a dozen of the state's top executives will discuss strategies for improving Michigan's economy.
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Local hospitality training scheduled
A training program for people interested in a career in the hospitality field will be offered next month in Manistee.
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Welding workshops begin in Traverse City
Local welders and business owners in the welding field are invited to upcoming workshops to share information about the sector.
Continued ... - Sunday, February 19, 2012
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Do small businesses create jobs? Not really
The work of several economists suggests that most small businesses are not particularly adept at creating jobs, at least not the best jobs. The work also suggests their role in generating national wealth has been exaggerated.
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Mardi Gras means fat business for Gulf Coast
Mardi Gras has long been celebrated in coastal towns from Texas to Florida. And it means big business.
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How-tos of offshore accounts: First, get a million
Wouldn't it be swell to have a cool million stashed away on a sunny Caribbean island? Here's how to do it.
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Harley Luplow: Try Risk Masters process
With today's uncertainty it's critical that companies examine the utility of their core systems and processes, and invite uncertainty to participate in their next strategy session. Accenture recently published a report of its finding on risk management practices by what it termed "Risk Masters," companies that use uncertainty to competitive advantage.
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Business memoranda: 02/19/2012
Meredith Hawes; Peter B. Worden; and more
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EU's airlines emissions tax is still on
Governments opposed to the European Union's new carbon emissions tax for airlines should not underestimate its determination to curb climate-changing gases, the EU's climate chief warned Friday.
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London steals fashion spotlight
London Fashion Week kicked off with a splash of color Friday shown by British designers Antoni & Alison, the first of dozens of catwalk shows jammed into the next six days.
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Twitter unveils ad system
Buying ads on Twitter is about to get easier for small businesses as the online messaging service adds a key piece to its moneymaking model. Twitter is unveiling a long-awaited automated system that will enable advertisers to manage their marketing campaigns and budgets without having to deal with sales representatives.
Continued ... - Saturday, February 18, 2012
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Agriculture forum: Chocolate milk can be health drink
Chocolate milk came under scrutiny lately because of concerns about sugar intake by our kids, but there's more at stake than just reducing sugar when we start pulling it out of children's diets. With a few major schools pulling chocolate milk off the menu due to sugar concerns, many parents, nutritionists and industry professionals are asking questions about what effect this has on nutrition in our children.
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Futures files: Chinese visit shows ag ties
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visited the United States this week, stopping in Iowa, one of the United States' top corn, soybean and hog producing states. Xi is expected to become the next leader of China. During his Iowa visit, he reinforced China's trade relationship with the Midwest, announcing major purchases of U.S. agricultural exports.
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Agriculture in brief: 02/18/2012
Grants aid low-income families with farming; USDA will survey Michigan producers; Vegetable production down, but value is up
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Dow rises to just short of milestone
The Dow edged teasingly close to the 13,000 marker on Friday, a milestone it hasn't reached since before the financial crisis brought the U.S. economy to its knees.
Continued ... - Friday, February 17, 2012
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Jobless benefit applications decreasing
The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell to the lowest point in almost four years last week, the latest signal that the job market is steadily improving.
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Foreclosures are accelerating
Banks took back more U.S. homes in January than in the previous month, the latest sign that foreclosures are accelerating after slowing sharply last year while lenders sorted out foreclosure-abuse claims.
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Stocks fueled by reports on jobs, housing
Investors sent U.S. stocks barreling to their highest levels of the year Thursday, buoyed by slivers of encouraging news about jobs and housing. At least for a day, they overlooked the lack of clarity about Greece's marathon negotiation for a bailout.
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FTC seeks disclosure on children's apps
Kids have easy and inexpensive access to hundreds of smartphone applications, but parents are in the dark about what personal information is being collected from their children and how companies are using the data, government regulators said Thursday.
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Raw Video: Guilty Verdict in UVa Lacrosse Death
$5 Gas Coming to Pumps Near You?
Raw Video: French Police Release Strauss-Kahn
Ga. Spa Shooting Leaves 5 Dead, Victims Related
2 More Western Journalists Die in Syria
7 Killed As Afghan Quran Protests Turn Violent
Santorum Goes After Obama on Energy
Judge Says Lindsay Lohan in the "Home Stretch"
Father Accused of Using Leash on 11 Year Old
Obama Helps Break Ground on Black History Museum
Raw Video: Dozens Dead in Argentina Train Crash
Wounded Vets Regain Some Camaraderie in Kitchen
Man Accused of Repeatedly Running Over Lover
Raw Video: Obama Belts Out Blues
FDA: New Suppliers to Ease 2 Drug Shortages
Raw Video: New Orleans Revels in Mardi Gras
'Super PACs' Overtaking Campaigns' Fundraising
Mild Weather Could Affect Syrup Production
Raw Video: Iran Sailors Saved From Burning Ship
Firm Suing Apple in China Open to Talks
