Community Empowerment Matters

  Marketing photo from Pixabay Trademark is the legal term for a word or phrase that distinguishes one brand from another and that customers rely on to know the source of the product. [1] If you are thinking about starting a business, consider these few simple steps for how to use the legal framework of trademark with a marketing perspective to get the best outcome for your new business. Step 1: Naming Your Business             One of the first steps [2] of launching a business is choosing a name. In that moment, the founder has a multitude of directions to choose from that could alter the course of success for the business. Whatever they decide will be the first impression customers have of a business or product. Should founders choose a literal, descriptive [3] name ( such as “Detroit Automobile Repair” ) to make sure their audience has a clear picture of what sort of business with which they are interacting? Or is it a better idea to choose a more arbitrary [4] or fanciful [5]

  Payday lenders have faced intense scrutiny over the last decade for their predatory and aggressive lending practices.   Payday lenders, such as Kwik Kash, Money Mutual, and Speedy Cash, provide loans to vulnerable consumers facing financial hardship.   While these loans may provide the short-term relief sought after, quickly these loans trap many of these consumers in a cycle of debt. [1]   Payday lenders typically charge 400% APR or more on their loans, so consumers often end up paying hundreds in interest on fairly small loans. [2]   Thus, what once looked like a lifesaver to many of these consumers becomes a very large financial burden in itself.   Because payday lenders are so common and popular for consumers facing financial emergencies, the effects of their exploitative business strategies are far reaching. While a majority of the recent outrage over fast cash loans has focused on the payday loan industry’s harm to individual consumers, the merchant cash advance (MCA) industr

  Michigan nonprofit organizations have a rich tradition of creating change in their local communities. The Internet drastically changed the media landscape by offering low-cost opportunities for organizations to reach wider audiences. Many nonprofits start publishing “calls to action” information on the internet, urging the public to contact their elected officials to express their support for or against specific legislation. While using the web to post information can be effective, it is also important for Michigan nonprofits to know about and comply with the relevant state law – the Michigan Lobby Registration Act. This blog summarizes the key aspects of the Michigan Lobby Registration Act, and some of the more commonly lobbying related issues encountered by nonprofits organizations. Note that this blog post does not address the applicability of the IRS regulations applicable to 501(c)(3) organizations, or other laws that may apply to nonprofits activities. Nonprofits organizations