Other Law

Compared to patents, trademarks and copyrights, trade secrets comprise the often-overlooked type of intellectual property.  This is because they are not registerable or grantable by a state or the federal government.  Rather, they represent information and knowledge considered proprietary by a company or organization. However, not all proprietary information qualifies as a trade secret.  Rather to obtain legally sufficient trade secret status, the proprietary information must be maintained and controlled by the company so that only those employees with a need to know the information have access to it.  Unfortunately, because companies rarely use the requisite care of proprietary information, much of it qualifies as trade secret information of which is misappropriation is actionable in court again a former employee who has absconded with it.  On the other hand, if the information is properly protected within a company, the company can sue both former employees and their new employers making use of this hard-earned information.  Having Leyendecker & Lemire draft a strong trade secret policy and associated employment contracts could easily pay for itself in preventing competitors from stealing your hard earned proprietary information.

Art has long been romanticized as a virtuous pursuit by individuals creating works for the betterment of culture and society. German artist Martin Kippenberger said that, “Entertainment and art are not isolated. Entertainment is in art like color in pictures.” Entertainment is a business and to be a successful artist (or entertainer), you have to treat it like a business. However, the business of art and entertainment are like no other business. There are nuances, complexities, industry norms, and personalities that are not found in any other industry. As an artist/entertainer, it is imperative that your attorney know the in’s and out’s of the entertainment world to ensure you get the best result you can. Leyendecker & Lemire, LLC has the Colorado entertainment attorneys and entertainment law experience necessary to navigate these hazardous waters.

Once you have secured your copyright, trademark or patent you will then want to monetize it. Once way of monetizing your intellectual property is to license its use to third parties in exchange for a royalty. When licensing intellectual property it is important to have experienced intellectual property counsel representing you. Furthermore, you want to have lawyers that are experienced in the type of intellectual property you are licensing. Patent licenses are very different from trademark licenses, which are very different from copyright licenses, which are very different from trade secret license. Each type of license has its own nuances and industry standards with its own set of pitfalls for the unwary. The legal experts at Leyendecker & Lemire have extensive expertise in drafting and negotiating all forms of intellectual property licenses and have the experience to successfully guide you through your deal from start to finish.

There are many subtleties to forming a business entity that can have large effects down the road. The Secretary of State has made forming a business online easy and streamlined; as an unintended effect, a whole host of consequences due to the way non-experts set up their LLC can crop up, costing a new business a lot more money than it would have to have the business properly set up in the first place.

As experienced Colorado business attorneys, Leyendecker & Lemire can help guide new business owners through the process to help ensure that the official forms filed for the business match the goals and visions for the company.

Using expert legal advice from our business lawyers up front can save the new business venture not just money, but untold amounts of time potentially spent in reformation, correction and potential conflict down the road.

Written contracts are another way to make sure your business is protected from unexpected surprises. Properly drafted contracts are key to limiting liability and making sure your company is in the strongest position possible. The attorneys at Leyendecker and Lemire have extensive experience in all areas of commercial contract drafting and negotiations. We can help business from everything from standard contract review and mark-up to drafting custom agreements to use with your customers, contractors or suppliers.