How to Trademark a Phrase

What Is Copyright?Copyright is a legal tool for ensuring that original works, such as writing, photos, or music, belong to the people who created them. You cannot use, copy, modify, or publish copyrighted work without the author’s permission. Copyright is often announced by the phrase “All rights reserved,” meaning that you may face a lawsuit if you violate it.Say you find a movie you want to watch on a torrent site, fire up your VPN, and get ready to download it. If you proceed, you’ll probably be breaking the law, as all movies have a copyright statement to prevent unauthorized distribution.That’s copyright in general, but if you’re, say, starting a new business and want to protect your brand, you need a specific legal tool - a trademark. You’ll probably need some instruction on what elements of your business can be protected through US copyright law, and we’ll have some recommendations for that later on.What Is the Meaning of “All Rights Reserved?”If you copyright text, music, your product name, or anything you created, no one can use your work without your permission. Creators and business owners use this phrase to imply that they reserve the right to pursue legal action under copyright law in case of misuse.Let’s make things simple: If you write a book, it belongs to you, and you are the only one who can distribute it further or allow others to read it or copy it. In other words, all your rights are reserved.“All rights reserved” has the meaning of keeping your ownership and distribution rights protected. The prase is often used along with a copyright notice, which consists of three obligatory elements: The word “copyright”, the abbreviation “Copr.”, or symbol © The year of the first publication of the work The name of the authorNow, we’ll have to disappoint you. Even though this phrase used to be legally required starting from the 1910 Buenos Aires Copyright Convention, it’s not anymore. Namely, failure to include “All rights reserved” or a copyright notice has lost all legal significance between March 1st, 1989 and August 23rd, 2000, thanks to the Berne Convention. Its signatories declared that every right is reserved unless explicitly stated otherwise. Copyright is granted to you by default through the very fact that you created the original content.However, do not hesitate to use the phrase, even though it’s technically unnecessary, as it tells those who wish to abuse your rights they shall be prosecuted. Less dramatically put, it warns possible copycats that publishing, modifying, or duplicating original content is not allowed without your permission.How Do You Copyright Something?Using the “All rights reserved” symbol on your website or artwork is not the only thing you need to do to protect it. Having copyright and protecting it from infringement are worlds apart.To prove that you have intellectual property and discourage others from stepping out of line, you need to do one of the following, or both: Place a copyright notice on your artwork or product. Register it with the US Copyright Office.You don’t have to do either, but it will make disputes much more straightforward. As we said, there’s no need to claim your copyrights. All your rights are reserved from the moment the work is created. However, if you wish to proceed with an infringement lawsuit, showing that your work is registered with the Copyright Office is the most substantial evidence you could bring to court, but again, it’s not mandatory.On the other hand, if you want to trademark your brand to reserve all rights, you need to deal with the US Copyright Office, and we recommend choosing an LLC service to help you along. They offer trademark registration, a seller’s permit, legal help, business licenses, pass-through taxation, etc. Take a look at our list of the best LLC Services to help you decide.Copyright DurationSo, what does “All rights reserved” mean in terms of length? Your ownership and distribution rights are protected, but for how long?As of January 1st, 1978, intellectual property is protected for the duration of the author’s life, plus an additional seventy years. If the work was anonymous, pseudonymous, or made as part of a commission, copyright lasts for 95 years from the moment of creation or 120 years after it was first published, whichever is shorter. There is no need to renew your registration with the US Copyright Office or for your descendants to do so.All Rights Reserved vs. Creative Commons vs. No Rights ReservedSome authors wish to selflessly share their efforts with anyone who might benefit from them. In this case, they include the statement “No rights reserved,” which permits others to use it for charitable, public, or personal purposes.Having copyright, for example, allows authors to charge for the use of their intellectual property. Once they give up these rights, however, anyone can use their work for free.Although you usually need permission to use copyrighted material in your work, there is an exception called Fair Use. Even though all rights are reserved to an author, small portions can be used to critique, teach, or as part of a news report, but not for commercial purposes. The press can also freely copy news and articles, but it has to add a reference to the source.Finally, let’s mention Creative Commons (CC). This organization uses a slightly different phrase, “Some rights reserved,” to illustrate their mission of free access to creative and academic work. It’s a non-profit that helps share knowledge by connecting content creators to people who want to use their work.If you’re still wondering when to use “All rights reserved,” take a look at any book’s copyright page. It contains the copyright notice, edition and publication information, cataloging data, print history, and other legal notices. A single glance will give you insight into the world of intellectual property protection.

Small-business owners often think an LLC is an excellent way to form a business because it represents an elegant way to divide personal assets from their business entity. A Limited Liability Company - or LLC - means that a business owner cannot be personally responsible for their company’s debts. Flexibility with profit and tax distribution is another vital reason business owners choose this business solution.If you’re wondering how your salary works in this case, our guide will show you the options for getting paid, as well as your responsibilities to the IRS.How To Pay Yourself in an LLCThe answer depends on how you choose to structure your business. An LLC can be owned by one person (a single-member LLC) or co-owned (a multi-member LLC). IRS rules consider an LLC to be a sole proprietorship when there’s just one member and a partnership when there are two or more LLC members. You can also choose to structure your LLC as a corporation. In this scenario, you’ll be an employee in your company and get a regular salary.The three different solutions offer different profit distribution and tax requirements.How To Pay Yourself in a Single-Member LLCAn LLC where you are the only member is a single-owner LLC. The good thing is, as the sole proprietor of your business, the only payments you need to think about are your own. On the other hand, you don’t get a salary or any other type of standard compensation. Instead, as a business owner, you can access the funds on your LLC account and transfer the amount you need to your personal account. This type of compensation model is known as “owner draw.”Unlike a fixed salary, the owners’ draw from an LLC account is a flexible method, as there is no predetermined draw limit or strict payment schedule. You can simply write a check or transfer money from your business account to your personal account at any time you want.How To Pay TaxesThe IRS regulates tax payment for all LLCs, including single-member ones. An LLC with just one member is considered a sole proprietorship and a disregarded entity, which means you don’t need a separate tax return for it. Instead, the LLC-payroll owner reports LLC income as part of their personal income, and that’s what gets taxed. You’ll use Schedule C to report your business earnings and losses on an annual level and submit it with your Form 1040.What Does It Mean for You?First off, you’ll need to pay taxes for everything the company earns, regardless of funds drawn. Secondly, since you’re considered the LLC’s sole proprietor, you’ll need to report self-employment taxes (Social Security and Medicare) to the IRS. The main downside of using the owner draw payment method is the extra skills you need to do your taxes.How To Pay Yourself in a Multi-Member LLCA multi-member LLC is a business entity with two or more members, and the IRS will view it as a partnership. You can also choose your LLC to be treated as a corporation by the IRS, in which case, you’ll be an employee and get a salary. We’ll discuss this option later.Much like in a single-member LLC, each owner of a multi-member LLC can draw money from the company account. There’s one capital or a general-ledger account that shows business expenses, earnings, the capital contributed by each member, etc. And if you’re wondering how much do multiple owners of an LLC get paid, it depends on the partners themselves. Together, you must decide how much each of you should be paid and how the payments will be transferred.There’s a document every aspiring proprietor should have when forming an LLC with friends or business partners. It’s called an operating agreement and shows each member’s ownership percentage, rights, and how much of the business earnings they get. The document can also include information on how to pay LLC members, especially when the company doesn’t make much - or any - money. Paying yourself with a partnership LLC can quickly become a bone of contention, so make sure to agree with the other members on stable payments even when your company doesn’t make profits.How Does Paying Taxes as an LLC With Multiple Members Work?If your LLC is classified as a partnership, each partner must pay individual taxes directly to the IRS. You calculate your tax returns based on each member’s ownership percentage. For LLC income-tax purposes, you need to file the IRS Form 1065 to report your business profits and expenses. After that, you and the other LLC members on payroll must show your share of a partnership income on Schedule K-1.It’s also important to mention that the members of an LLC must pay full taxes on their share of the earnings, no matter how much they draw from the joint account for compensation. For example, if your share in an LLC is 50% and you take only a part of that as an owner draw or even nothing at all, you’ll still pay taxes on 50% of the business earnings.LLC Guaranteed Payments vs. Owner DrawWith owner draw, the proprietors can get funds from the LLC’s business account as needed or set up recurring payments. It’s a good solution, especially if you’re the only owner of your business. However, you need to be careful to leave enough money in the business account for your company to operate smoothly.On the other hand, you can use guaranteed payments. As the name suggests, they are a guaranteed amount that each co-owner receives, regardless of how much their business is currently earning. LLC member compensation should be strictly outlined in the operating agreement, which is why it’s so important to pay special attention when creating this document with your partners. Although an LLC looks like an easy business entity to manage, its owners should be familiar with the fact that managing an LLC comes with certain rules. For example, if you decided to set up a guaranteed LLC payment for each member, you need to do that before you officially form your LLC.Run an LLC - Pay Yourself From a Corporate AccountAnother road you can take when you start an LLC is to structure it as a corporation. You and the other owners will be considered employees, and instead of owners draw, you’ll get monthly salaries. Each member must report their earnings from the LLC as part of their personal income to the IRS. In addition, the company itself has to pay taxes. You’ll need to file different tax forms and schedules, depending on whether your LLC is incorporated as a C-Corp or S-Corp.

We’ve all heard of the YMCA, and not just because of the song. Of course, there are plenty of other famous nonprofit organizations (NPOs) - including the Scouts, the Red Cross, and the Salvation Army - that are making a positive, long-lasting impact on the world, one individual at the time. If you have a cause you believe in or want to change the world for the better, you might consider starting a nonprofit organization yourself.  But how do nonprofits work? Should you start one yourself? And what does the process involve? In this article, we’ll explain the benefits of nonprofit organizations and outline the steps you should take if you decide to start one. What Is a Nonprofit? Informally speaking, any group whose mission is to help others could be considered a nonprofit organization. The group’s primary goal should be to serve the community or to promote and work on a social cause.  Some of the most common NPOs you encounter every day are associations, churches, and clubs. You might have also read about or donated to nonprofit organizations that provide funding for education or humanitarian aid. Many focus on raising funds for research to find a cure for a specific illness. There is, of course, a more comprehensive answer to the question: “What is a nonprofit organization?” It would be fair to describe an NPO as an organization that receives donations, sponsorships, goods, and services to help with its mission. These are the main sources of income for any nonprofit organization.  A nonprofit organization’s profits must be immediately applied to pursuing its goal or donated to other related nonprofits. This is a major definition of nonprofit organizations. It is extremely irregular, sometimes even illegal, for the leaders of nonprofit organizations to make a profit from their involvement. What Is the Difference Between Nonprofit and LLC? Many people assume that a nonprofit corporation isn’t allowed to generate any profits whatsoever. That’s not the case. In fact, the main difference between nonprofits and LLCs lies in how they use their profits. LLCs can - and usually do - distribute some or all their profits among owners and shareholders. An NPO can’t do this. Of course, nonprofit employees still earn reasonable salaries if they are hired instead of volunteering, but these salaries do not increase based on the organization’s success. The sole purpose of the money a nonprofit generates is to further the goal and mission and keep the organization running. What Are the Benefits of a Nonprofit Organization? Perhaps you’re wondering whether or not you should formalize your group as a charity or nonprofit organization. If that’s the case, you should know there are multiple benefits to turning your group into an NPO. The process itself is not daunting, and if you’re looking to create the change you want to see in the world with your group, it’s well worth the trouble.  The Credibility You Need Being part of an enthusiastic group of people busting their backs for a cause is amazing, period. However, at some point you’ll need a business address and a bank account. Making your organization last without funding can be challenging, and while there are plenty of benefits of working for nonprofit organizations, not everyone is going to be dedicated enough to stay true in the long term. Getting donors to invest in an unofficial group could be a futile effort, too. By incorporating your group into a nonprofit organization, you’ll gain the credibility you need to approach donors with the confidence your goal deserves.  Access to Funds Once you turn your group into a nonprofit organization, it will open up many doors leading to public and private grants that could help you pursue your goals. There are many benefits of nonprofit organizations for the welfare of society, so naturally there are plenty of grants available. After all, if you’re registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, donations are usually tax-exempt, which will make your group more appealing to donors. Chasing donors can be a hassle, but it’s likely the best way to keep your organization afloat. However, even if you simply rely on small donations from the general public, you need to make sure you’re adhering to state laws. Some states require that you register as a nonprofit to receive donations from the general public. If not, you could get in serious trouble. Limited Personal Liability Speaking of trouble, once you’re registered, you’ll only have limited personal liability; it’s one of the advantages of nonprofit organizations. Unlike with non-incorporated groups, if your NPO gets sued or is struggling with debt, your personal assets are protected.  That’s not to say that once you have nonprofit status, you can do whatever you want and not be liable for your actions. There are certain cases in which limited liability can be revoked, such as board members mingling nonprofit and personal funds or engaging in dodgy practices. Still, in case of a dispute, board members are generally protected if they follow the relevant rules and regulations that apply to nonprofits.  Advice from a Professional Registered Agent Once you decide to incorporate a nonprofit corporation, it’s mandatory by law to have a registered agent. That could be you or one of your team members, but it’s not a good idea; we strongly advise you to hire a professional registered agent.  It might seem like an annoying cost you could live without, but there’s a good reason for acquiring these services; you want to have a professional handling your legal paperwork in a proper and timely manner. These services typically cost between $100 and $300 per year, and in some cases NPOs qualify for a discount. For that amount of money, a registered agent is well worth it. What Are the Disadvantages? There are, of course, some disadvantages. Consider these carefully to make sure you understand the pros and cons of a nonprofit organization.  Inevitable Expenses Access to grants does not come for free, so you might find yourself in a pay-to-play situation. If you’re looking to establish your group as a nonprofit organization, you’ll need to dedicate some startup funds, as you would with a business. The first major expense you’ll have to deal with is filing all the paperwork. Forming a statutory nonprofit company requires you to submit documents to your state’s business entity filing office. Some states also require an annual fee as part of the nonprofit’s cost of operation. After that, you might need some legal assistance to ensure you’re working within the laws of the state in which you’re operating. Of course, if you opt for online legal services, these costs will be trivial compared to having an actual lawyer on retainer, but it’s still worth factoring them in when you plan your budget. Unavoidable Ongoing Obligations Even though it might feel like it, you’re still by no means exempt from your compliance obligations once you establish your NPO. Make sure you check what these are within the nonprofit statute under which you form your nonprofit business. It might require you to draft bylaws or operating agreements, keep records or specific books, or file an annual report. Significant Regulations Keep in mind that every nonprofit is closely regulated by a particular nonprofit statute, so you need to ensure your management team is up to par. This is mandatory if you’d like to retain your nonprofit status and avoid public scrutiny. This can encompass many things, but primarily it will require you to have a board of directors, which must gather for periodic meetings. You’ll usually need to keep notes of those meetings, organize quora, and much more. Wondering How To Set Up a Nonprofit Organization? There is no such thing as a foolproof method for starting an NPO, as each one is subject to different regulations. The best approach is probably to hire an LLC service company to do the job of founding the nonprofit for you. You’ll have to pay a reasonably small fee, for which you’ll get the peace of mind that a professional is on the job. If, however, you’re determined to do it yourself, here are some general steps to help you through the process. Step 1: Do your research.  Step 2: Form your NPO’s team.  Step 3: Develop a strategy and an operating plan for starting a non-profit. Step 4: Select the NPO’s name, board of directors, and legal structure. Step 5: File a non-profit certificate of formation. Step 6: Apply for federal employer certification. Step 7: Prepare a 1023 federal tax-exemption application to get 501(c)(3) status. Summary Starting and running a 501(c)(3) organization is a major undertaking. It takes a lot of research, determination, and a group of exceptional people who are all united with the purpose of achieving a common goal.  Hopefully we’ve answered the most basic question: What are nonprofit organizations? Now it’s your turn to establish the NPO that will bring about the next great change!