Blackletter

On this episode of Monday Minutes, Tom Dunlap discusses what the U.S. is doing for Ukrainian refugee s . President Biden recently announced that the U.S. would accept 100,000 asylum seekers . Tom breaks down what that process looks like, as well as the eligibility requirements. Listen to the episode to learn more about who can file for asylum and how.

On this episode of the Blackletter podcast, Tom Dunlap continues his conversation with Melanie Simons, CEO of ReFrame Wealth. In Session 2 of 3, Melanie chats about the internal challenges she and her partners had to navigate once their company was up and running. While all the partners had the same intention for the business, they differed on how to reach that end goal. Melanie explains their creative solution to this predicament and urges anyone opening a business to have their documents prepared and settled. Listen to the episode to hear more of Melanie’s advice to those founding a company.     Links:   ReFrame Wealth website: https://www.reframewealth.com/ ReFrame Wealth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reframewealthMelanie C. Simons LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniecsimonsThe ReFrame Wealth Story: https://youtu.be/WK8h9jOWB2k 

This morning Tom provides an overview of business sanctions on Russian. While U.S. companies and individuals can lawfully engage in a broad range of business activities involving Russia that are not subject to sanction, penalties for violating U.S. sanctions can be severe. Therefore, American companies are advised to familiarize themselves with the sanctions before conducting business activity. For more information you can go to trade.gov or dbllawyers.com.

On this episode of the Blackletter podcast, Tom Dunlap chats with Melanie Simons, the co-founder and CEO of ReFrame Wealth. In Session 1 of 3, Melanie sits down to talk about her entrepreneurial journey and what she’s learned. An investment advisory firm, ReFrame Wealth prioritizes financial planning and highly customized portfolio management. Financial discussions can be anxiety-provoking; Melanie and her team pride themselves on being a safe place to have those conversations. Listen to the episode to hear about how the pandemic, resignations and more spurred Melanie’s entrepreneurial path.    Links:   ReFrame Wealth website: https://www.reframewealth.com/ ReFrame Wealth LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reframewealthMelanie C. Simons LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniecsimonsThe ReFrame Wealth Story: https://youtu.be/WK8h9jOWB2k 

On this episode of Monday Minutes, Tom Dunlap discusses warranty stickers on devices that warn against breaking the seal for repairs. However, those stickers on products from Nintendo, Sony and more are in violation of the 1975 Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. 

On this episode of the Blackletter podcast, Tom Dunlap wraps up his conversation with Ben Landers, the founder of Blue Corona. In Session 3 of 3 of their interview, Ben chats about how he tackled a complex problem his company faced due to rapid growth. As they scaled, the company operated on disparate systems, causing friction for the employees. Ben identified every problem his team encountered, prioritized them by quarter, and started addressing them. Additionally, he hired someone who helped him conduct a competitive analysis, and from there, shape the organizational systems. To hear more about Blue Corona and Ben’s advice to entrepreneurs, check out Session 1 and Session 2 of his interview.   Links:   https://www.bluecorona.com/  

Pressure is mounting on companies to stop making repairs so difficult. Lawmakers in over 25 states are considering right-to-repair bills, aimed at making it easier to repair electronic devices after President Biden's 2021 executive order. The executive order asked that the Federal Trade Commission draft “right-to-repair” rules to come up with new rules limiting the ways companies can implement repair restrictions. The FTC said it would boost enforcement efforts against companies that illegally hobble repairs by doing things like suggesting that independent repairs will void a consumer’s warranty.

On this episode of the Blackletter podcast, Tom Dunlap is once again joined by Ben Landers, the founder of Blue Corona. In the second session of three, Ben believes all entrepreneurs to view problems as puzzles, as running a business is rarely smooth sailing. As his company has grown, he has had to tackle more complex issues. However, Ben is now more prepared, as he has shifted his perspective and equipped his team. Listen to the episode to hear more of Ben’s advice to entrepreneurs. To hear more about the unique founding of Blue Corona, make sure to listen to Season 7, Episode 1.  Links:   https://www.bluecorona.com/  

This morning Tom discusses the recent invasion of Ukraine by Russia. He discusses Putin's attempt at looking for reasons within the international law framework for this invasion and why Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a clear act of aggression and a violation of Article 2.4 of the UN Charter, which prohibits the “use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State”.

Can you successfully build a company within a company?    On this episode of the Blackletter podcast, Tom Dunlap chats with Ben Landers about the unique founding of his company Blue Corona. Originally in Corporate America, Ben thought he’d be working for large companies forever. Then, the dot com era fell apart, and Ben found his way into small business, particularly a coffee company. However, that was only the start of his journey.   Listen to the episode to hear more about how Ben successfully incubated his digital marketing firm within a coffee company, how he discovered the right customers and what business book every entrepreneur should read.   

On this episode of Monday Minutes, Tom Dunlap chats about why and how government contracts differ from other contracts. The government is the larger spender when it comes to contracts, racking up $1 trillion dollars each year. However, they have unique rules in their agreements, such as termination for convenience, the Christian doctrine, and more. Listen to Tom break down termination for convenience and the Christine doctrine, as well as explain the difference between apparent versus actual authority.  

On this episode of Monday Minutes, Tom discusses cow tipping and other phenomena. While it is illegal to trip a horse, and even a donkey in some states, it is not illegal to go cow tipping. Though almost impossible to do, you can be sued or fall into other legal trouble by trying. Listen to the episode to hear more on the topic.  

How do you get a strong trademark associated with a descriptive or non-distinct term?  With a lot of hard work!  One way you can trademark a non-distinct term is through a secondary meaning.  A secondary meaning is an additional meaning acquired by a non-distinct trademark through its commercial use. To acquire federal trademark protection, a non-distinctive mark must become associated with a single commercial source in the minds of consumers. (for example, the term “apple.”) 

On this episode of Monday Minutes, Tom discusses how one can trademark a sound. Sounds like MGM’s lion, Tarzan’s call and even Homer Simpson’s “D’oh” are trademarked under the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Tom explains the certain qualifications the sound must meet in order to be patented. He also distinguishes how these sounds differ from ones such as 60 Minutes ticking and why those are not protected.    

Season 6 of the Blackletter podcast is wrapping up! Today, we take a look at the highlights of this past season, from notable guests to complex topics. Tom discusses subjects like incorporating charity into business, pivoting during the pandemic, empowering women and much more. The Blackletter guests share their advice to business owners on how and why they should network, grow and fail forward.  Philanthropy, Pivoting and Improvement:   Philanthropy (1:04) Tom chats about the importance of philanthropy with Braven Greenelsh, Sharon Virts and Peter Burnett. Braven discusses how he has integrated philanthropy into his business Threegood, while Sharon chats about the call to action. Peter speaks on practicing kindness and community.  Pivoting during the Pandemic (4:19) Ingrid Vanderveldt explains her campaign Empowering a Billion Women, and how her network rose to meet

On this episode of Monday Minutes, Tom discusses French Dressing, the only dressing codified in the code of Federal Regulations. After a petition submitted by the Associations for Dressings and Sauces in 2020, the FDA has allowed the dressing to change, evolve and improve. Listen to the episode to hear more on the case.  

According to Swiss guidelines, gruyère must be made in the region around Gruyères, Switzerland, which has produced the cheese since the 12th century. In the United States, however, gruyère can be made anywhere, according to a federal court ruling that was made public last week. It was the latest development in a long-running legal tangle between American cheese producers and producers in Switzerland and France over what makes gruyère gruyère. Listen as Tom discusses the holes in Swiss cheesemakers' legal arguments. 

On this episode of Monday Minutes, Tom chats about how the writer Charles Dickens related to the law. In the 1800s, he had to sue for copyright infringement, as someone was selling copies of The Christmas Carole without his permission. Additionally, his novel Bleak House led to legal reform in the UK. Listen to the episode to hear more about the case and how the UK law relates to laws we still have in the U.S.

On this episode of Monday Minutes, Tom discusses a case involving the sculptor Michael Hayden and the famous Cicciolina. Ciciolina took photos with some of Hayden’s sculptures without a license, helping to launch the career of her ex-husband Mr. Koons. Interestingly, the photographs were taken decades ago and Hayden is only suing now. 

On today’s episode, Tom gives an update for the Trademark Modernization Act of 2020, which will go into effect this December. The new features include a reexamination proceeding and an expungement. Tom explains what the new expungement proceeding is and what it accomplishes. Listen to the Monday Morning Minute to hear more on what the reexamination process looks like and what both new proceedings change.