Legal

Understanding business law is critical to protecting your ideas and knowing your rights.

Our articles on legal issues have been created to help business owners tackle sensitive situations that require essential knowledge. Some of our articles break down tricky issues such as trademarks, patents and IP, while other content is more lighthearted, providing a welcome break from the more serious side to managing a business.

Setting Up or Altering a UK Partnership Business

Setting Up or Altering a UK Partnership Business

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Setting Up or Altering a UK Partnership Business

Setting up or altering a UK partnership business requires some practical and legal knowledge; these FAQs should help you get your company up and running.

Registering Your Trademark

Registering Your Trademark

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Registering Your Trademark

If you've got your small business set up, you need to safeguard it with a trademark. Here's everything you need to know to protect your business today.

Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

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Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

What would work best for you? The freedom of freelancing or the stability of employment work. Check out this article about the pros and cons of each.

​Should You Patent a New Idea?

​Should You Patent a New Idea?

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​Should You Patent a New Idea?

Protecting a new idea, invention or design with a patent can give you a competitive edge in the market by preventing copies. We share how and when to apply

Understanding Your Legal Rights as an Employee

Understanding Your Legal Rights as an Employee

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Understanding Your Legal Rights as an Employee

Your employer should (of course) abide by employment law, but a wise employee should always seek to understand his or her legal rights.

​Defences for Trademark Infringement

​Defences for Trademark Infringement

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​Defences for Trademark Infringement

Have you been accused of trademark infringement? Are you facing a threat of proceedings? Don’t panic - there may be a defence.

Is Your Business Ready to Go Global?

Is Your Business Ready to Go Global?

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Is Your Business Ready to Go Global?

It can be one of the most difficult decisions an entrepreneur will ever make - Can your business stand the test of time in a different country?

Declaring Your Second Income

Declaring Your Second Income

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Declaring Your Second Income

If you're lucky enough to have a second income, not declaring it could land you in a whole heap of trouble with HMRC, so here's how to declare it.

A Licence to Kill

A Licence to Kill

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A Licence to Kill

If you’re operating solely within the UK, there's often no need to obtain a business licence. However, specific licences may be required in your sector.

The Small Business Owners' Guide to Protecting Your Ideas

The Small Business Owners' Guide to Protecting Your Ideas

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The Small Business Owners' Guide to Protecting Your Ideas

In a technologically advanced age, businesses need to protect their products and ideas from plagiarism via a copyright, a trademark, a patent or a design.

Franchisees and The Law

Franchisees and The Law

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Franchisees and The Law

What separates business owners and franchisees when things start to turn sour and where do you stand?

Terminating an Executive Officer After TARP Funding

Terminating an Executive Officer After TARP Funding

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Terminating an Executive Officer After TARP Funding

What are the consequences for terminating an executive officer in a US firm that has accepted Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) government funding?

Non-Compete Clauses for Freelance (Part 1)

Non-Compete Clauses for Freelance (Part 1)

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Non-Compete Clauses for Freelance (Part 1)

Freelancers: always pay attention to the small print in non-compete clauses in supplier contracts. Read Part 1 of our article on this vital issue.

Copyright Claims: Is There a Defence?

Copyright Claims: Is There a Defence?

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Copyright Claims: Is There a Defence?

Are you facing a claim issued against you for infringing someone’s copyright? If so, all is not lost - there may be a defence available to you.

Poaching Employees

Poaching Employees

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Poaching Employees

How to avoid getting into legal hot water when headhunting competitor's staff, and preventing their own staff from being poached.

Introduction to Entrepreneurial Copyright

Introduction to Entrepreneurial Copyright

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Introduction to Entrepreneurial Copyright

Entrepreneurial ​rights offer protection to people who take the time to invest in creativity, but differ from literary, drama, music or art copyright.

​Minority Shareholder Rights

​Minority Shareholder Rights

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​Minority Shareholder Rights

Are you a minority shareholder who feels that the majority has forced a decision? The minority rule may help.

How the Employment Appeal Tribunal Works

How the Employment Appeal Tribunal Works

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How the Employment Appeal Tribunal Works

If you think an employment tribunal has made a wrong decision, there may be steps you can take to appeal. We cover the appeal process from start to finish

​Non-Compete Clause: The Ins and Outs

​Non-Compete Clause: The Ins and Outs

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​Non-Compete Clause: The Ins and Outs

Non-compete clauses are commonplace in the commercial world, so if you’ve signed one but you’re considering your options, here's all you need to know.

​Trademarks: The Basics

​Trademarks: The Basics

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​Trademarks: The Basics

A trademark is a distinguishing mark used to set your products and services aside from your competitors, and here's why it's important for your business.