Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta
You’ve gone through the process, secured your trademark, and now you’ve got that official ® next to your name—but what comes next? What do you need to do to keep your trademark active and protected? In this episode of the PBPA Podcast, Vijay Nenmeni with Cox Enterprises will talk about the key deadlines you can’t …
Ready or not, artificial intelligence (“AI”) is here to stay. Let’s make sure your nonprofit is ready! Join us in the latest episode of the PBPA Podcast, where we talk about how nonprofits can effectively use AI while evaluating important privacy, security and ethical considerations. Hear what Jessica McKinney with Smurfit Westrock has to say …
In the digital age, sharing and publishing images has become an integral part of nonprofit storytelling. However, this seemingly simple act carries with it intellectual property (IP) and privacy considerations that can significantly impact individuals and organizations. Whether using photographs taken by a volunteer, artwork from a paid artist, or pictures generated by AI, it’s …
A nonprofit’s website is often the first impression donors, participants and the community may get of the organization. So, you want to make sure it is informative and engaging and makes a positive impression. But in this era of copy-paste culture and easy sharing, how can you protect your nonprofit’s website’s content and design code …
You may have heard of the “fair use defense”, where certain unauthorized uses of copywritten material may be allowed by law. Here at PBPA, we often get questions from clients about the “fair use defense.” What really is the fair use defense? Does it give nonprofits a free pass to use copywritten material? In this …
Whether a nonprofit’s name is based on its mission, location, founder, or something completely unrelated, it is the keystone of the organization’s branding. If you’re deciding on a name for your organization or a new program, or even if you are growing your brand, take a listen to this episode of the PBPA Podcast. In this …
Your organization has multiple options in how to protect its name through trademark. Depending on your geography, your budget, and the types of services your provide, your organization has choices. This article will outline the three different trademark protection options available to nonprofits and the pros and cons of each option.
Social media makes a great way to communicate with nonprofit clients, stakeholders, donors, and the general public. Almost all posts use your organization’s or another’s intellectual property to spread the word. Intellectual property includes copyrighted content (like images, videos, and text), brands and logos and individuals’ rights of publicity. During this presentation, we’ll talk through …
Applying for a trademark is a crucial step in solidifying and protecting your organization’s hard work and reputation. However, when applying for a trademark, your address, email address, and other details of your registration are added to the public domain. This gives unethical companies the opportunity to flood your mailbox and your email with deceiving …
Nonprofits, like all organizations, collect and create information that is valuable to the organization and important to maintain in confidence. Examples include client information (including personal and medical information), donor information, personal information (about board members, volunteers, or employees), as well as other business and financial information that needs to be protected. This article outlines …
This webinar provides an overview of how to identify and protect confidential business information that is significant to your nonprofit. The presenters will explain the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act, clarify the legal differences between confidential information and trade secrets, discuss how nonprofits can use confidential information and trade secrets while continuing to protect them, …
Nonprofits create many things, from curriculum to videos to websites to music. After expending their limited resources to create things (or to pay others to create them), nonprofits should certainly consider how to protect their rights in those things. Copyright protects works of authorship from unauthorized copying and distribution. An original work of authorship becomes …
Photographs promote a nonprofit’s operations unlike anything else. They can be used on websites, in brochures and newsletters, and on social media to demonstrate what an organization is doing in its community. Confusion, however, abounds on when an organization can use photographs legally and under what circumstances. During this 30-minute webinar, our speaker helps nonprofits …
Nonprofits spend many hours working on fundraising brochures, training materials, photographs, and sometimes even software. Each work product is protectable under copyright law and, for some valuable property, is an asset that the nonprofit can license either to further its cause or as a potential revenue stream. During this 30 minute webcast, our speaker helps …
Whether your organization has just been born or has been serving the community for decades, you may not realize that your organization’s trademarks and branding are valuable symbols for trust and quality to those you serve. The reputation of your organization is inseparable from its brand. As a result, it is important that these intellectual …
Volunteers and employees of nonprofits often pull images and other content from the Internet in preparing newsletters, social media posts and other materials. This can easily expose the organization to liability for copyright infringement. This article provides a basic understanding of copyright law as well as a list do’s and don’ts for using materials from …
This is part six of an eight part webinar series that provides general legal information about operating a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation. Your nonprofit may have valuable “intellectual property” rights in your organization’s name, logo, program materials and other assets. This webinar will give an overview of intellectual property considerations, and how to best protect …
Imagine that you have volunteers who prepare the latest, greatest materials for your organization’s new program. Photos were taken, brochures are hot off the press, and training manuals are ready for distribution. You may ask yourself – how can I use these great materials for other future programs? Within this question lies a common, but …
You put a lot of creativity into your Organization’s logo, but have you protected it? Learn about Trademarks, and how to keep your image your own. Article: Trademarks
Have your organization invented a product or process? Are your name or original materials protected? Find out about patents, trademarks and copyright from the experts. Please note that in addition to the legal disclaimer above, this article contains information that is based, in whole or in part, on the laws of the District of Columbia. …
Nonprofits invest a lot of sweat equity into building their “brand” and developing their training or educational materials. As a result, many nonprofits want to protect their name and materials. During this one hour webinar, our speaker helps nonprofits understand: What are federal and state trademarks and when they are useful Issues associated with the …