Your website is your organization’s face to the world. Too often, the website is taken for granted and some things can fall through the cracks. We recommend a “website checkup” at least once a year.

Here’s a list of sample checkup questions:

• Domain Name: Who owns the domain name? Did a third party vendor or an employee register your domain name? What will happen when that relationship ends? Will the third party vendor or employee hold the domain name “hostage” as leverage?
• Website Design and Hosting: Who owns the website? Do you have the right to control the content, the graphics, and the look and feel of the website?
• Website Security: Hacking is so widespread that anyone can be a target at any time. Confidential information and users’ personal information must be protected.
• Do you have the right to use the content on your website? Do you own or have licenses for all text, graphics and photos that appear on your website?
• Does your website allow others to post content? If so, what are you doing to protect yourself from liability if someone posts infringing content on your website?
• Are your Terms of Service and Privacy Policy up to date: As issues arise, the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy can protect your business. Outdated terms and policies can be more harmful than none at all.

These questions allow you to engage in preventative maintenance, which is a cost-effective method to protect your business and its intellectual property.

GOOGLE ANNOUNCES A MARKETPLACE TO BUY AND SELL PATENTS

In 2014, over 615,200 patent applications were filed and over 326,000 patents were issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. These statistics increase substantially every year. Not every patent is “practiced,” meaning not every patent is actually used by the patent holder. Some of these patent holders hope to sell or license their invention in exchange for a lucrative payday. The problem lies in finding potential buyers and licensees.

On May 8, 2015, Google did a soft launch of a program that allows patent holders to post their patents for sale or license and set their own prices: http://www.google.com/patents/licensing. Google plans to allow the use of the website on a limited basis. If all goes well, Google will launch the fully functional website in August 2015, so stay tuned!

To discuss how these issues apply to your company contact:
Beverly A. Berneman (312)696-1221, baberneman@golanchristie.com