Los Angeles Business Law Blog

Previously in this blog, we have discussed how important it is for businesses to protect their intellectual property. However, protecting intellectual property is not something reserved for business entities; individuals can also benefit from such protections.

If you work in certain capacities - like design, writing or other creative roles - it can be important for you to understand what intellectual property you might have, as well as why you should protect it.

Employers across California go to great lengths in terms of both time and money to hire loyal, competent employees. However, it can be a challenge to retain employees, particularly when a competing entity offers attractive benefits to try to get a worker to come work for them.

In some states, employers prevent this by having employees sign non-compete agreements that prohibit them from working for certain companies until a certain amount of time has passed after their employment ends.

Trade secrets are typically among a company's most important assets. This information is a solution, formula or technique that gives the business a competitive edge and sets it apart from others. And its value comes from the fact that it is not available to people outside the business.

California employers have a lot to think about when it comes to hiring workers: the type of employee, whether to pay them on and hourly basis or salary, the rate of pay, the types of standards they to enforce, and many more issues. Unfortunately, these decisions aren't always strictly in an employer's hands. Sometimes, they depend on much larger factors, like the available workforce and the economy.

For instance, trucking companies are struggling with a driver shortage that has taken a considerable toll on hiring prospects. As noted in a recent article on the trucker shortage, companies may be making hiring concessions they might prefer to avoid.