So you come up with an awesome phrase that would be perfect for a mug, a t-shirt, a card, or a hat. Can you run down to the Trademark Office and file a trademark for that phrase? Before you try to trademark a t-shirt design, make sure you check out this week’s episode of Ask Kiff. […]
Molly the Maker
Do you create and sell a physical product to your customers? Then this post collection will help do it on the legal up and up!
“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
In my late 20s, I worked at an environmental consulting firm. When I first started I had a boss that believed that he was the only one that could look good. He took all the credit for good ideas and passed all the blame to us. Needless to say, it was a very unhappy team […]
Is LegalZoom good or bad?
LegalZoom is cheaper than a lawyer, but you’ve heard good and bad stories about it. When should you run far away? When might it be okay to use it? Before you use LegalZoom make sure you check out this week’s episode of Ask Kiff. Watch the video | Read the show notes | Read the […]
How can you foster connections between your clients/customers?
In the past few months, I’ve been a test knitter for two different patterns. Both patterns had mistakes and confusing sections. But as of last week, both projects are blocked and finished. One designer, I’d happily test knit for again. And the other I’d politely decline if she asked me. The big reason is that […]
Do I need a process to use customer photos? If so, how do I ask without scaring them off?
Your customer has just posted the perfect photo showing your product on her Instagram feed. Should you #regram it? Or ask permission first? If you want to use customer photos (or client photos) then you won’t want to miss this week’s episode of Ask Kiff. Watch the video | Read the show notes | Read […]
Does having my VA email on behalf of my business turn her into an employee?
Want to tame your inbox by delegating it to your virtual assistant? Would you like them to answer emails, book appointments, or respond to customer requests? Then you won’t want to miss this week’s episode of Ask Kiff. Watch the video | Read the show notes | Read the transcript Show notes Read this post […]
What can I do with licensed fabric?
What can you do with licensed fabric? Is there a difference between what the legal protections are and what’s practical for your creative business? That’s exactly what we’re going to cover in this week’s episode of Ask Kiff. Watch the video | Read the show notes | Read the transcript Show notes Watch last week’s […]
Can I copyright my patterns?
If you create patterns or use them, you might be confused about the restriction at the bottom of the pattern that reads: For personal use only Are patterns protected by copyright? Can those restrictions hold up? That’s exactly what we’re going to cover in this week’s episode of Ask Kiff. Watch the video | Read […]
How to get the most bang for your copyright registration buck
I can’t emphasize enough how important copyright registrations are when it comes to stopping copycats. Yeah, yeah you have a copyright from the moment you create your work. But bluntly, that fact means nothing when it comes to enforcing your copyright. When you try to enforce an unregistered copyright, you are walking into a fight […]
Can I place a blanket copyright on everything on my website?
What is a website copyright notice? What does it mean? Does it protect my website? How do you create one? That’s exactly what we’re going to cover in this week’s episode of Ask Kiff. Watch the video | Read the show notes | Read the transcript Show notes Read this post to learn the value […]
Create a product? Is it protected by copyright?
Don’t you love it when you get proven right? Maybe it’s the attorney in me, but I love it when I get proven right. (But on the flip side, I do enjoy finding out I’m wrong because then I learn something.) In 2017, I had the excitement of knowing my opinion was deemed right by […]
I have shop policies, but do I need terms of service?
Do you have online shop policies? That’s a great first step to establishing expectations with your customers. But…when something goes wrong, your shop policies likely won’t help. (Because they aren’t enforceable.) In this week’s Ask Kiff episode I share why you need both online shop policies and terms of service. (And don’t forget to leave […]