Securing a visa to the United States or Canada can be a complex and daunting process, often requiring careful preparation and adherence to specific guidelines. Whether you're planning to visit for leisure, study, work, or to join family, understanding the key factors that influence visa approvals can significantly enhance your chances of success. Click here for essential tips to consider when applying for a visa.
Read MoreIn recent years, there has been a significant shift in trademark law towards recognizing and protecting non-traditional marks, such as sounds, colors, shapes, scents, holograms, and motion marks. These unique identifiers are increasingly valued for their ability to distinguish the origin of goods or services. This article explores the complexities of trademark protection for non-traditional marks, discussing legal precedents, challenges, and strategic considerations. The article will further delve into how businesses can navigate these complexities, including the types of evidence needed to demonstrate distinctiveness and proactive strategies for safeguarding intellectual property rights effectively.
Read MoreIn the contemporary era of digital and remote interactions, the traditional pen-and-paper contract has given way to its electronic counterpart. With the proliferation of email, websites, and mobile apps, entering into agreements has never been easier—or more complex. In this article, we'll explore the intriguing realm of electronic contracts, examining the hurdles and legal considerations they entail.
Read MoreIn the dynamic realm of technological innovation, where ideas morph into inventions at a staggering pace, trademarks emerge as indispensable assets, shaping the identity and trajectory of pioneering products and services. While patents safeguard the nuts and bolts of innovation, trademarks serve as the cornerstone of brand recognition, consumer trust, and market differentiation. Understanding the pivotal role of trademarks in technological advancements is essential in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of innovation and competition.
Read MoreMany non-US citizens and residents establish US based entities in Wyoming, Delaware, or New Mexico, due to ease of business set up. Further, by setting up an entity, many international business people gain access to better banking and easier business registration on e-commerce platforms, such as Shopify, Amazon and others. The US is also known for its transparent rules and laws around business establishment and commercial matters. However, depending on the nature of business, foreign residents may have exposure to tax liabilities if they setup their business incorrectly, and therefore some thought is required before selecting the right entity to create in the US. In this article we discuss various structures that can be used to start a US business.
Read MoreMany e-commerce businesses set up legal entities in the US, in order to facilitate smoother payment processing and payment collection. However, before setting up, there are a number of key legal documents which need to be created and/or filed, in order to set up a business in compliance with applicable laws. Therefore, this week we dive into the essential legal documents required for forming both an LLC (Limited Liability Company) and a C Corporation, along with their significance.
Read MoreThe L-1 visa is an employment-based visa that allows organizations to transfer their professional employees from overseas branches to those in the United States. It’s designed for individuals with managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge roles.
Read MoreIn the vast digital landscape, bloggers and content creators often rely on eye-catching visuals to enhance their blog posts. However, the improper use of images can lead to serious legal consequences. Oftentimes, years later, the rights holder (being Reuters or another major publication), may turn up with a letter or email, to request thousands of dollars under the US copyright act, for what may seem to be a harmless use of content.
Read MoreThe E-1 Treaty Trader Visa is designed for foreign nationals who wish to engage in substantial trade between the United States and their home country. If you’re considering doing business in the U.S., the E-1 visa could be a valuable option.
Read MoreCreating a trust can reduce or even eliminate costs related to wealth transfer, such as probate fees, and gift and estate taxes. This benefit might be mitigated however by inadvertently shifting tax liabilities onto other aspects of the trust arrangement, such as the income tax liability of the trust’s beneficiaries and the tax liability of the trust itself.
This article summarises the various kinds of trusts and their respective assignment of tax liabilities to members of the trust, before briefly discussing trust tax margins in the US and other important considerations regarding tax liability going into their establishment and management.
Read MoreAs many of us absorb the horrific details of conflicts and human rights atrocities occurring globally, in Gaza and South Sudan to name just two, we instinctively wonder when we can expect an end to warfare. If warring states cannot reach a resolution, when and how can those well-known and apparently globally powerful peace-keeping institutions step in to end the violence?
This article explores the contradictions inherent in an apparently globally powerful codified international law system, particularly when it comes to its limitations in the face of significant reliance on international customary law. Is codified international law capable of meaningfully enforcing a global rule of law and if not, what new customs and norms between nations might emerge instead?
Read MoreIn September this year (2023), the European Council announced that it had settled on two central intellectual property agendas to pursue ahead of negotiations with the European Parliament on IP legislation.
The new agendas would to enable key pieces of legislation governing IP law in the European Union to adapt to the fast-evolving digital era. In particular, the EU legislative body proposes to support industrial design creativity by increasing the reach of design protection and expanding EU IP law terminology to include design mediums emerging out of technological developments (such as 3D printing and metaverse creations).
Read MoreSince announcing its intention to become a ‘leader in tech talent recruitment and attraction’, Canada has taken several steps to attract a more highly skilled tech workforce.
One of Canada’s most recent attempts has involved enabling a direct transition to a job-specific worker permit from its tourist visa. The amendment aims to entice tourists in Canada, many of whom the Canadian government knows to be highly skilled tech professionals on working holidays, to remain in the country and contribute to the Canadian tech sector via a relatively hassle-free visa status alteration.
Read MoreSeveral years after the pandemic lockdown, remote work remains accessible to many and more now than ever is granting opportunities to people to become digital nomads. Governments globally have responded by adjusting existing visa requirements or offering an entirely new category of visa entitlements to cater to working nomads looking to enjoy simultaneously the spoils of visiting foreign lands for extended periods.
Read MoreCanada this year offered specialised workers on the American H-1B visa the option to transfer directly to a Canadian work permit with almost identical conditions. Announced mid-June in 2023 at the global tech conference Collision in Toronto, the work permit was so popular only a month later that it attracted sufficient interest in 2 days to fulfil the Canadian government’s planned yearly quota of 10,000 applications.
Read MoreIf you are a business owner looking to import goods into the US, you may have some concerns about the current US-China trade dispute which has provoked the US to burden many categories of Chinese products entering America with hefty tariffs.
Read MoreIf you have considered migrating permanently to Canada, you may be familiar with Canada’s Express Entry system , which aims to fast track immigration to the country for immigrants with professional or trade experience. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (‘the IRCC’) has now introduced language competency and occupational categories to which it will preference in some parts of its Express Entry processing – find out how these new categories affect Permanent Residency (‘PR’) candidacy in Canada, and how you can check your eligibility.
Read MoreWorsening conflict and humanitarian crises in Sudan and Ukraine have displaced millions and made the availability of refugee processing and relocation an urgent matter for discussion and action. This blog aims to help summarise for asylum seekers as well as readers less affected by the crises the pathways and general availability of refugee status in Canada, the UK, and the US.
Read MoreTrademarks are unique and arbitrary words, phrases images or sounds which identify goods and products and their source for consumers. However, not all phrases or marks used to brand products or services can be registered as trademarks with the USPTO. In particular, many marks may be rejected for lacking any distinctiveness or uniqueness.
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