“Branding Can Save Your Business”- Class Next Week

Posted on | March 4, 2009 | No Comments

There are a few spots left for the class Kyle Lacy and I are teaching on branding and legal protection for brands.

If you’re serious about saving, growing or starting a business, branding is vital.  Protecting that brand is equally important.  That’s why you should attend this class.

Let me introduce you to Kyle Lacy.  Kyle is a social media mastermind, truly.  Check him out at www.getbrandswag.com or www.kylelacy.com

My law firm does a lot of trademark work for our clients.  We trademark company names, product names, service marks, tag lines, etc.  We also develop strategies to protect names and logo’s

Kyle Lacy develops marketing strategies that utilize great branding.  

Together, we are going to teach how to develop a brand strategy and then legally protect it.

March 10, 2009 ,  12:00 – 2:00 P.M.         8604 Allisonville Rd. Suite 300, Indianapolis, 46250

$25.00  TUITION FEE

EMAIL KYLE OR ME IF YOU’RE INTERESTED.

Are Covenants Not to Compete Really Enforceable?

Posted on | February 2, 2009 | 1 Comment

READER’S QUESTION:  Are Covenants Not to Compete Really Enforceable?

MATT’S ANSWER:  Yes.  In most states.  In Indiana for sure.  In most cases.  If “reasonable.”

 There is a huge misperception that covenants not to compete (“restrictive covenants”) are unenforceable.  I hear that all the time.

Where do people get such bad legal information so often?

Restrictive covenants are enforceable in Indiana and many other states, if “reasonable.”  The courts have defined “reasonable” to mean limited: (1) in the time or duration of the restrictive period; (2) in the geographic range or area and (3) to activities likely to protect a legitimate business asset or interest.  So, for example, if a truck parts salesman with inside “secret” knowledge of customer needs, pricing strategies, new marketing strategies, costing, etc. quits his job to work for a competitor, a restrictive covenant of 18 months in the same sales territories would probably be enforceable.

Restrictive covenants are even more important and easier to get approved in court, when a business owner sells to or merges with another business.  In those situations, the buyer wants to know that he is the only person or company that will have access to the business assets (information, data, documents, etc.) that is being purchased.  The courts are much more likely to enforce a restrictive covenant in these situations.

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CHECK OUT OTHER ARTICLES I’VE WRITTEN ON IMPORTANT BUSINESS, REAL ESTATE AND LAW-RELATED MATTERS:   http://indiana-attorneys.com/articles_news/index.htm