Protecting proprietary software is critically important for many technology startups. Proprietary software can potentially be protected as a trade secret or by copyright or patent law – there are pros and cons to each approach. For example, some companies prefer going the trade secret route because, unlike with copyrights and patents, it requires no filings […]
A year or so ago, amidst the initial frenzy of excitement about artificial intelligence (or more specifically, about the “large language models” or “LLMs,” which enabled non-programmers to interact with AI using natural language), I mused on our blog about whether our clients should fire us and hire ChatGPT instead. (Short answer – not yet.) […]
Many goodcounsel clients start off in businesses as limited liability companies, enjoying the flexibility and tax-efficiency that this type of entity offers. A lesser known but quite significant advantage of LLC’s is the ability to provide incentive equity in the form of “profits interests.”
In my previous post about AI (specifically, AI large language models or “LLMs”) and its impact on the legal profession, I concluded that the current versions of LLMs would not replace lawyers but could serve as very able assistants. As our friends at Clausebase put it in a recent webinar: AI can take over a […]
Illinois employers take note: Illinois recently joined two other trailblazing states (Maine and Nevada) in requiring employers to provide a minimum amount of paid leave for employees. Thanks to the new Paid Leave for All Workers Act (the “Act”), effective on January 1, 2024, employees working in Illinois (but not Cook County) will earn and […]
Short answer: not yet. My “hot take” is below.
“Dilution” is one of the most discussed topics in the startup community. goodcounsel often advises startups on the implications of dilutions. In this post we describe some common scenarios, and explain what happens in terms of dilution.
Some clarification on confusing equity-related terminology Founders often ask us about the meaning of certain equity-related terminology. We thought it would be useful to explain some commonly used (but frequently misunderstood and misused) terms.
The behemoth General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) governs the European Economic Area*. By contrast, no federal privacy regulation applies across all U.S. states. A company must comply with regulations of the states in which it does business. As a practical matter, compliance is geared towards the state with the most stringent regulations. Effective January 1, […]
Founders often come to us before they have formed a legal entity, seeking advice about the type of entity to form –usually it is between the two most common entity types, limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations. The type of entity will not determine whether the business succeeds or fails. Still, entity selection merits consideration. […]