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Legal Materials: Articles - business

Terms of Service and Privacy Policies

Terms of Service and Privacy Policies

Category: Start-Ups

What you need to know about Terms of Service and Privacy policies

Author: Samuel Michaels – SM Legal

A Terms of Service (alternatively called a Terms & Conditions) is a legal document provided by a business to their customers. It is usually posted on a dedicated page on the business’ website. The Terms of Service describes the business’ product or service, sales process, and specific rules regarding cancellations, refunds, and returns. The Terms of Service will also often explain how customers should interact with the website, and how the business protects its property and content. Most online businesses will pair a Terms of Service with a dedicated Privacy Policy….[+]

What Do You Need to Do to Start a Business in Ontario

What Do You Need to Do to Start a Business in Ontario

Category: Start-Ups

Starting your own business in Ontario

Author: Alex Koch – insight lawyers

The Province of Ontario presents entrepreneurs with many opportunities to start a business; firstly as a host to a significant portion of the Canadian population and secondly as a province offering its residents some of the country’s highest incomes. For this reason many entrepreneurs are seeking to commence their business venture in Ontario; however, it is not always abundantly clear where these entrepreneurs should start and how they should proceed….[+]

How To Select The Appropriate Structure For Business

How To Select The Appropriate Structure For Business

Category: Start-Ups

Doing it right: How to structure your business

Author: Alex Koch – insight lawyers

With every new venture, there are new challenges. Not all, but some challenges can be avoided with better planning. One of the most common steps overlooked by new businesses is choosing the appropriate business vehicle. Selecting a business structure may not seem as important when you are trying to turn an idea into a business venture; however, it is one of the most important pillars on which your business is going to stand meaning that it is something that must be given thought to at the outset. Most businesses use one of the following five structures:…[+]

Does My Company Need Shareholders Agreement

Does My Company Need Shareholders Agreement

Category: Start-Ups

Author: Alex Koch – insight lawyers

Any individual who owns at least one share of a company is considered a shareholder. Although there are some laws in place to protect shareholders and to help them make certain decisions, shareholders of most companies prefer to negotiate their relationship with one another and to put it in writing via a shareholders’ agreement. In general, a shareholders’ agreement is a contract among a company’s shareholders used to guide their relationship, management of the company and the ownership and transfer of shares… [+]

Protecting Innovations of Startups are patents worth the investment

Protecting Innovations of Startups are patents worth the investment

Category: Intellectual Property

Are patents worth the investment

Author: Steve Martin – Ridout & Maybee LLP

Multi-billion dollar patent acquisitions by the likes of Google and billion dollar patent damages awards in disputes like that between Apple and Samsung have made patents rise in prominence recently.  While patents can be one of the most valuable assets a company owns, the value of each patent varies widely and pursuing a patent may not always be the right choice.  Entrepreneurs and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) need … [+]

Blockchain Technologies Are Being Patented in Canada

Blockchain Technologies Are Being Patented in Canada

Category: Intellectual Property

What does this Mean for Future Blockchain Patents

Author: Filip Boskovic – Ridout & Maybee LLP

We had previously written about the emergence of and issues of patenting blockchain technology in Canada.
Over the course of the past year there has been an increase in the number of Blockchain patents filed in Canada. 
Notably, in 2018 at least two Blockchain patent applications have received a grant in Canada, including Canadian Patent No. 2 981 511 to Nasdaq, Inc., US (the “Nasdaq Patent”) … [+]