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A Breakdown of Fair Use

Is your small business trying to spruce up your website by adding some new pictures? Want to raise money for your nonprofit by hosting a community movie night? Trying to update your marketing materials with a brand-new promotional video with cool background music? If so, you could be opening yourself up to potential copyright lawsuits and should read up on the doctrine of fair use! An important aspect of starting a small business or nonprofit is exposure, and as organizations work to market themselves and increase awareness of their goals and activities in the communities they serve, they could open themselves up to legal danger. Litigation is expensive, and the cost can be especially devastating to small businesses and nonprofits. In all promotional or informational materials (including brochures, flyers, websites, etc.), organizations need to be sure that they are legally protected from copyright infringement claims.   What is Fair Use? Fair use is a legal doctrine that per...
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The Bankruptcy Code and Black Business Owners: An Overview on the Racial Disparities that Exist in Bankruptcy Proceedings

"sisyphus paradox."   by   percipio symphony   is licensed under   CC BY 2.0   In a recent podcast for Bloomberg Law, University of Texas at Austin School law professor Mechele Dickerson discussed how the Bankruptcy Code favors white debtors over Black or Latino ones in various ways. [i]   Interviewer : “Is there a racist element in the U.S. Bankruptcy Code?” Professor Dickerson : “Intentional? No. But if you look at the way the Code is structured for human beings that file for bankruptcy, there are clear biases and it so happens that these biases favor a certain profile which I have called in the past an ideal debtor…” [ii]   This is a reality that has not gotten much attention in legal and business communities. Although there have been dozens of studies that have found Black debtors file for bankruptcy disproportionately more than other racial groups (yet get less permanent relief) there has been no definitive answer presented as to why. [iii] ...
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Pursuing Microfinancing as a Small Business in Michigan

  Do you need access to proper funding to get your business off the ground? Small business owners can secure funding via loans from traditional financial institutions; however, microfinancing is another option that could be the right choice for your business. While the term “microfinance” might evoke images of rural women’s collectives in developing countries, microlending is a real option for small business owners throughout Michigan and has a long and storied history in the United States. Sometimes, a business just does not qualify for a traditional loan because it is too new or too small. In that case, microfinance can help you access the funding you need to continue your business operations. What are Microloans? Microloans are typically offered in amounts up to $50,000 and provide funding to underserved entrepreneurs, such as women, veterans, and entrepreneurs of color. They are available through certain nonprofit, community-based organizations that are experienced in lendi...
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