Questions tagged [business]
For questions relating to commercial activity
46
questions
18
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Can someone more wealthy than me bury me in legal fees?
USA Federal Law -
I have a company worth about $6m. I got on the bad side of a person with a company worth well over $750m (with attorneys on staff). The CEO threatened to bury me in an endless sea ...
- 333
12
votes
1
answer
35k
views
Is it legal to sell something that uses another product as one of its ingredients?
In example:
If someone sells homemade ice cream where they have crumbled oreos and mixed in to make homemade Oreo ice cream, but generically named "Cookies & Cream"
or
If someone uses Great ...
- 123
3
votes
1
answer
932
views
After purchasing an item, then being issued a refund the item then arrived
I purchased an item at distance (in this case online), this item did not arrive until 2 weeks after the end of the delivery window. Towards the end of that 2 week period the seller was kind enough to ...
- 227
16
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Can I name a real company after a fictional company found in a book?
Can I name my company after a fictional company (of the same type) found in a book?
6
votes
2
answers
4k
views
If a retailer sends you something you didn't order, can you keep it?
This Consumerist article discussing a Wal-Mart shipping mishap involving a customer receiving extra iPods argues that the FTC ruling regarding unsolicited goods means that you can keep good as a ...
user702
1
vote
3
answers
263
views
What are one's options, if he is incorrectly listed as defendant in civil lawsuit?
A little background:
Two employees working for a competing beauty salon left it and came to us to rent out two stations. Since day one we have had landlord-tenant and not employer-employee ...
- 384
23
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Can an AI own a company?
If an artificial intelligence was smart enough to handle all business activity and affairs could it be given ownership of a company?
- 349
9
votes
2
answers
12k
views
What are the implications of reselling food?
What are the implications of reselling food? Is it legal?
What would happen, for example, if in the US I buy Little Caesar's pizzas (with no delivery service) and sell them on another place? What are ...
- 91
5
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Proving Theft From a Store
If the burden of proof lies on the plaintiff, how could the plaintiff prove the defendant didn't pay for an item removed from a store.
From what I understand a negative can't be proven.
In this case ...
4
votes
2
answers
156
views
What are the benefits of a incorporating vs. operating an LLC?
I'm in California, but have been told to Incorporate or become an LLC in Nevada.
Is there any reason to do this out of state, other than cheaper renewal fees?
- 177
4
votes
4
answers
1k
views
How to gather Compelling Evidence to prove that business is fraudulent?
My friend's small business agreed to a one-month risk-free trial service from one Credit Card Processor company. However, she did not like the service, because it did not live up to verbal promises ...
- 678
4
votes
3
answers
777
views
How are MMOs with real money economies allowed to operate?
A lot of Massively Multiplayer Online games include a form of "premium" in-game economy that may be purchased with real money (cash) by the player, usually for the purposes of faster progression in ...
3
votes
2
answers
20k
views
Is other party by law required to give you a copy of contract, if you don't have one, but he does?
I am helping a friend who has signed some documents for her business with a Credit Card Processor company. However, at the time of signing up for this service she forgot to ask for a copy of all ...
- 678
2
votes
2
answers
535
views
what happens if a brand or company's name is a common everyday word?
What happens if a company name is an already existing commonly used word, i.e. Always?
Could for example, a movie studio decide to make a movie and call it "Always", even though there is a feminine ...
2
votes
4
answers
916
views
Business not honoring promotional credits despite extensive efforts to work with them
Overview:
I purchased three new smartphones from a large, well-known, phone company on 11/27/2015. Each phone qualified to receive $300.00 in promotional credits after trading in a separate smartphone ...
- 218
1
vote
2
answers
114
views
In the US, is it possible to protect a business idea?
Provided the idea is new and meaningfully different from any other existing business. Is there a way to prevent others from profiting off that idea?
- 177
5
votes
4
answers
27k
views
Is it illegal to repair vehicles in Ontario without a mechanic's license?
I have a business license from the province of Ontario and an HST number so that I can file my taxes. I have an accountant who handles all of my taxes, so I don't think I will have any issues there.
...
- 153
5
votes
1
answer
400
views
What crime is commited when a mechanic charges for an unneeded or non-existent service?
There a number of mechanics who take profit of people's ignorance of car mechanics to charge for unneeded or even non-existent services, like change the blinker fluid or perform an capacitive ...
- 1,249
4
votes
3
answers
310
views
Can a business impose a minimum amout for credit card payment without notice?
Recently, I visited a bar I regularly attend and purchased what I normally get, which has a pre-tip total of less than $10. When I went to pay the check with my credit card, I was told that there was ...
- 2,095
4
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Can someone deny cash as the payment method?
There are a few restaurants in my area where cash payments are not accepted. They only accept electronic payments such as credit cards, local debit cards, etc. Is this legal?
On most currencies, it is ...
- 1,703
4
votes
2
answers
481
views
When is misrepresentation and concealment allowed in negotiating contracts?
Suppose I, or a company I own, want to purchase a domain name from an existing owner. Am I allowed to blatantly lie about the interests I represent and why I want the domain?
Can I, for example, buy ...
- 647
3
votes
1
answer
440
views
No written contract. Do I have to pay undisclosed early termination fee?
A credit card payment processing company agent approached my business and offered to try out their service for free for a month as a trial.
However, I decided not to use it after this one month trial,...
- 31
3
votes
2
answers
128
views
EU fines Google $2.7B, based on which laws?
Yesterday the news came out that the European Union fined Google for $2.7B because they, according to the EU, place their own services higher in the result than competitors.
Google suffered a major ...
- 183
3
votes
1
answer
427
views
Should a foreigner have a US-based company to sell through Amazon cloud-based warehouses?
Let's borrow and expand on Can a foreigner setup an unstaffed company in United States?.
Everyone knows that you can rent computing resources from Amazon.com in the cloud, but not many know that they ...
- 4,958
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
In Houston, Texas, do you need a DBA if you only conduct business in the LLC's name?
I was reading an article on Houston's local government site about starting a business.
The article states:
Limited Liability Company (...) files with the Texas Secretary of State. (...) This ...
- 121
2
votes
1
answer
15k
views
Can suits be filed in small claims courts from overseas?
I often see freelancers suggesting to other freelancers to use the small claim courts to get paid when the client is in another country. Already with the small claim court, there's a maximum amount ...
- 105
2
votes
1
answer
100
views
Is an independent contractor liable?
If an independent contractor performs work or provides consulting services to another company, and that company suffers a loss (or deems to suffer a loss) due to the independent contractor, can they ...
- 23
2
votes
2
answers
300
views
Copyright Law for Logo Design that Incorporates a Royalty Free Vector Design [closed]
I am designing a logo for a for profit company. This logo design consists of letters that represent the name of the company but also incorporate a silhouette of a city skyline merged with these ...
- 23
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Can your business have the same initials as a major corporation?
By coincidence, if my company was “Internal brilliance method”(I just made that up) could IBM(international business machines) sue me over trademark infringement? In different industries different ...
- 31
2
votes
1
answer
88
views
Starting an online buiness as a minor
Just start out, this is the closest to right area to post about a question like this I could find. Sorry if this is misplaced.
Anyways, I am looking to start a web design business as a minor ( I am ...
- 21
2
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Is legal to sell virtual goods?
Is it legal to buy cheap virtual items (as game keys, in-game items, etc.) and then sell or trade them for a higher value?
I have some items that went up in price and I'm thinking of selling them. ...
- 145
1
vote
1
answer
49
views
GDPR and Certification Check
Based in UK.
I manage a certification website that allows users to register an account and complete a course, before doing so they explicitly agree to the website's privacy policy and GDPR. The ...
- 111
1
vote
2
answers
587
views
Can I expense a trip to a coffee shop (small business owner)
I own a small business and work out of my home. Sometimes I like to work out of a coffee shop for a few hours here and there.
Can I expense the coffee that I buy at a coffee shop?
- 249
1
vote
1
answer
94
views
Do I have to be an adult to register a business
I just want to know if there is any way I could register my business as an LLC without being an adult.
- 11
1
vote
2
answers
3k
views
Is selling pictures of merchandise illegal if you imply that you are selling the actual merchandise?
Is it illegal if I take a picture of a piece of merchandise such as a new Xbox One, and sell the picture of that piece of merchandise?
Is it illegal if I advertise the picture of the piece of ...
- 13
1
vote
1
answer
110
views
Use of encryption and storage of personal information on website based in India
I want to launch a website that stores users' personal information, encrypts user passwords, and uses SSL for secure transmission. Do I require an license to launch the website? If yes, how do I ...
- 11
1
vote
2
answers
127
views
How to protect my idea in another country?
I have an idea about possible creation of a product that in my opinion would be on demand among smartphone users. I have found a potential company In Switzerland and I think about offering them my ...
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
86
views
What happens when a Canadian not-for-profit organization does not comply with its own by-laws?
When I search "by-law Canada" in Google, everything I get is about "municipal by-laws" such as as the first result which is the website of a law firm that explains what municipal ...
- 668
0
votes
1
answer
48
views
Can investors protect their business idea?
Suppose that Alice is the developer/founder of the Uber app and finds an investor for the startup company resulting in the existing Uber company. Suppose also that there is no Lyft or UberEats app out ...
- 259
0
votes
1
answer
815
views
Can students on F-1 visa in U.S. operate a software business incorporated offshore?
If I were to form an offshore company (IBC) for an internet business, can I run it in U.S. on F-1 Student status? It is just a software application. People go on the website to pay and download it. ...
- 135
0
votes
1
answer
188
views
Cheated by business with fake positive reviews
I wanted to hire service of a hypnotherapist for a personal issue and looked up online in my area and found one based on the reviews on Google. The therapist recommended 10 weeks program and charged ...
- 111
0
votes
3
answers
456
views
If there was no written contract in the first place would a phone call be enough to terminate relationship with the other party?
My friend's small business engaged in a relationship with another company that provides credit card processing service. They did not ask my friend to sign a written contract at the time of signing up ...
- 678
0
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How do I share equity in a business run under my LLC?
There's a good chance I am thinking about this the wrong way but bear with me:
I am developing a service under my LLC. The service has nothing to do with the LLC so I'll file for a new DBA. I'd like ...
- 157
0
votes
3
answers
371
views
Can I copyright all creative works created hereafter by doing this?
This question is inspired by the TED talk Copyrighting all the melodies to avoid accidental infringement and its Lobsters thread. Basically, the story is that Damien Riehl and Noah Rubin put every ...
- 191
-2
votes
2
answers
161
views
Marketing using GMail [closed]
I purchased a database of bulk emails.
Now, planning to make some profit from it.
Can I use Gmail as my marketing mail id and send advertisements?
Is this Legal?
-3
votes
2
answers
167
views
Is it possible to keep assets from being taken when a company is bought by another?
Say you have company A. They are being bought by company B, are there legal ways to permit company B to buy A but not permit B to own assets that company A had originally owned?
Or in selling company ...
- 161