Starter Resources (Georgia)

Search For Companies By Name, Industry, Subject, or Location

Toll-Free # Lookup For Businesses (See If they Have One)
Also can call 1800-555-1212.

www.Switchboard.com

www.companiesonline.com

www.infospace.com

www.theultimates.com

Corporate Consumer Contacts (List Of Addresses & Links To Their Headquarters)
Must scroll down alphabetical list.

Information On US & International Companies
Find the company behind the brand name, where they're located, their financial info, their officers, subsidiaries, who they advertise with, what media they use, and more.

Thomas' Food Industry Register can tell a company's name, address and phone number, the products it produces and the government agencies that regulate both the products and the company itself.

Find The Company Behind Textile, Fur & Wool Products (RN Lookup)
A registered identification number or RN is a number issued by the Federal Trade Commission, upon request, to a business residing in the U.S. that is engaged in the manufacture, importing, distribution, or sale of textile, wool, or fur products. Such businesses are not required to have RNs. They may, however, use the RN in place of a name on the label or tag that is required to be affixed to these products.

Trademarks

General Info On Trademarks	International Trademarks
State Trademarks	Internet Domain Names
Federal Trademarks

General Information

Differences Between Patents, Trademarks & Copyrights
How to protect your name, invention or creative work.

Trademarks & Business Goodwill (SBA)

Avoiding Patent, Trademark & Copyright Problems (SBA)
Learn how to avoid infringing the rights of others and the importance of protecting your own rights.

State

Please note that State trademarks offer nowhere near the same protection as Federally Registered Trademarks.

*State Trademarks In GA
For information on state trademarks, Incorporations, filings, forms, etc.

Search For State Trademarks Held By Others (All 50 States)
State trademarks are often found at your Secretary of State's Office. Usually this information can be found under "Trademarks" or "Trade names & Service marks."

Trademark laws in 28 states (must scroll down)

Federal

Basic Facts About Federal Trademarks

Federal Trademarks-Frequently Asked Questions

Search For Federal Trademarks Held By Others

Search For Common Law Trademarks Within Domain Names
Search for word strings within a domain name. Domain Surfer provides results for registered domains in the .com, .net, and .org categories. It does not return results for domain with "on-hold" status.

International

Registering International Trademarks (Consumer-SOS)

Trademark Search In Other Countries
Search for and find out who own US, Canadian and European Trademarks.

Domain Names & Trademark Law (Nolo.com)
Here's what website builders need to know about trademark law.

Finding The Guy Who Owns That Domain Name.
To find the name and address of a domain name owner, you can use the WHOIS search service provided by NSI.

Simply enter the domain name and your search results will include a contact name, phone number, address and email address for the domain name's owner.

For More See The Internet/Domain Names

Trade Secrets

Protecting Your Trade Secrets (Nolo)

Georgia Non-Compete Agreements (Consumer-SOS)
Learn when they're void or enforceable.

See Other Information

Patents

Differences Between Patents, Trademarks & Copyrights
How to protect your name, invention or creative work.

US Patent Database
Search for existing patents by the name of the owner, the patent number or patent description.

Patents And Your Rights (Nolo Articles)

Avoiding Patent, Trademark & Copyright Problems (SBA)
Learn how to avoid infringing the rights of others and the importance of protecting your own rights.

See Other Information

Copyrights

Differences Between Patents, Trademarks & Copyrights
How to protect your name, invention or creative work.

The US Copyright Office
Search for copyrights or file your own. Also has frequently asked questions about copyrights.

The Educator's Guide To Copyright & Fair Use

Avoiding Patent, Trademark & Copyright Problems (SBA)
Learn how to avoid infringing the rights of others and the importance of protecting your own rights.

See Other Information

Other

General Forms For All Occasions (The 'Lectric Law Library)
Scroll down their forms page for forms on general business matters, living wills, power of attorney, promissory notes, employment and contracting.

Small Business-Find Answers To Many Of Today's
Most Common Legal Problems
Learn about: Avoiding Litigation, Preventing Wrongful Discharge Suits, Financing a Business, Firing an Employee, Forming a Partnership or Corporation, Hiring an Employee, IRS Audits, Debt Collection, Starting a Business, Tax Returns and more.

Online Brochures On Over 100 Business Issues (SBA)

Other Intellectual Property Links (With Descriptions)

Find The SBA Office Nearest You (All 50 States & DC)

Find Your Secretary Of State (All 50 States)
Your Secretary Of State often has information on corporations & incorporating, state trademarks and licensing boards.

Brand Name Lookup (Ad Redbook Homepage)
At the mid-top of the page click on brand name lookup and find the company behind the product. Then call 1800-555-1212 for the company's toll free #.

Thomas' Food Industry Register can tell a company's name, address and phone number, the products it produces and the government agencies that regulate both the products and the company itself.

Information On US & International Companies
Find the company behind the brand name, where they're located, their financial info, their officers, subsidiaries, who they advertise with, what media they use, and more. Refers you to a library-May have to buy or reserve the book.

For More Resources & Great Tips, Check Out Nolo.com

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Counseling and Training Resources

8(a) Workshops
The 8(a) Program is SBA's effort to promote equal access for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals to participate in the business sector of the nation's economy. Socially and economically disadvantaged individuals include Black Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian Pacific Americans and Subcontinent Asian Americans. Individuals not members of these minority groups who can demonstrate that they are socially and economically disadvantaged also may be eligible.

Service Corps of Retired Executives
More than 12,400 volunteers in the provide training and one-on-one counseling at no charge.

Small Business Development Centers
SBDCs provide training, counseling, research and other specialized assistance at nearly 1000 locations nationwide.

Business Information Centers
Business Information Centers (BICs) provide a one-stop location where current and future small business owners can receive assistance and advice.

U.S. Export Assistance Centers
USEACs offer a full range of federal export programs and services from a number of federal agencies under one roof. Many locations have new-to-export programs called E-TAP.

Women's Business Centers
SBA's network of more than 60 Women's Business Centers (WBC) provide a wide range of services to women entrepreneurs at all levels of business development.

Introduction and Overview

To get world wide trademark protection in over 80 countries, you'll want to take advantage of the two major treaties on trademarks. By doing so you can secure your trademarks through registration in two nations instead of eighty.

The first major treaty is called the Madrid System of International Registration, and it involves almost 70 countries. The Second and far smaller treaty is for TM protection throughout the European Union.

Madrid is governed by The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). TM protection within the EU is governed by The Office for the Harmonization of the Internal Market (OHIM).

Please note there is substantial overlap between Madrid and OHIM, especially for those countries within the European Union. You will need a lawyer to decide which one is best for you.

There may of course be other treaties for nations outside of Madrid or OHIM. One example of such is the Paris Convention. But if you can't find a treaty for the countries you're applying for, your only option is to file separate applications with each of these respective countries.

And if you're filing with a non-treaty nation, it is likely you will be required to use one of their own lawyers and file the application in their native language.

EUROPEAN UNION TRADEMARK INFORMATION (OHIM)

For an overview check out www.hg.org/1413.html
and www.slw.dk/english/european.htm

FOR INFORMATION ON THE WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORG (WIPO)and the Madrid Union

List Of Madrid Member Nations

Fees For Filing Under Madrid

General Information On Madrid

www.wipo.int/madrid/en/index.html

www.wipo.int/eng/newindex/madrid.htm

Trademark Protection In Other Countries Not Listed Above

Trademark Law In Countries Not In Madrid or OHIM

For Existing International Trademark Treaties including the Paris convention

For Actual Members of the Paris Convention
Patience. The long downloading time is worth the wait!

International Treaties to Protect Patents & Trademarks

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Resources

One Stop Capital Shop (404) 853-7675
This Atlanta business assistance center offers the technical and financial advice needed to start your own business.

Here, entrepreneurs have access to a variety of services including a computer lab, library and free business advice from professional counselors. One Stop also offers free and low cost classes on how to write your own business plan, raise money for business expansion, repair your credit, and advertise your services. They can even help you print flyers and business cards for your grand opening.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (404) 529-9865
or (404) 529-9808
Their service core of retired executives gives valuable free advice and referrals. Learn how to incorporate, obtain a loan, make effective business proposals, presentations and where and how to advertise. The U.S. Small Business Administration also offers low cost seminars for those who need more information on these subjects.

The Georgia Non-Profit Resource Center (404) 688-4845
The Non-Profit Resource Center is a private agency that provides advice on how to set up and maintain non-profit organizations. In addition to offering management assistance and consulting services (based on a sliding scale fee), they can send you a free start up packet on how to form your own non-profit organization. The start up packet will help you design a mission statement for your organization and tell you the state and federal forms you will need.

E-LOAN
Licensed in at least 40 states, E-LOAN allows consumers to apply for a a small business loan via e-mail. On this site, consumers can search for the best rates on everything from mortgages to credit cards to home equity loans. It costs nothing to apply for a loan and your application will get a response within 24 to 48 hours.

The Consumer Information Center (800) 664-4435 Check out their free consumer publications. Get Their free book with important federal, state and non-profit help agencies. They also have a consumer help line open between 10 am. and 2 pm., Eastern Standard Time.

Counseling & Training Resources

The Federal Web Locator
Through this web site, cyberconsumers can link to the electronic doorsteps of federal departments, agencies, commissions and quasi official agencies.

The Aspen Institute (202) 736-5800
This non-profit group lists 328 microenterprise programs that extend small loans to help businesses get started. Their directory of Micro Enterprise programs costs $15.

The Council On Foundations (202) 466-6512 Provides contact numbers for local foundations.

Foundation Center (800) 424-9836 or (404) 880-0095
The Foundation Center can direct you free of charge, to the organizations most likely to give grants to your cause. Their directories will help you locate grant makers by subject, geographic area and a variety of other factors.

The Foundation Center will answer quick reference question over the phone, but it won't do your research for you. It's up to you to make your own personal list of potential donors based on what you find in their library. The Foundation Center also has information on how to set up and manage foundations and other types of non-profit organizations.

Guidestar (800) 421-8656 or (800) 424-9836 Guidestar gathers and disseminates information on over one million 501(C)(3) organizations. Guidestar's extensive database classifies each organization by subject and can find donor organizations willing to assist you.

Alexander, O'Neill, Haas & Martin (404) 875-7575
Fundraising consultants who will structure your organization to maximize donations. Their web site lists individual donors what boards they serve on, and any articles written about them.

For information on Small Business Investment Companies which provide equity-capital, long term loans, debt equity investments and management assistance to small business, write to:

Investment Division
U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 Third St., SW

Washington, DC 20416 or check out www.sba.gov/inv
on the Internet.

Free Money To Change Your Life, by Matthew Lesko
This book lists 15,000 federal and state programs that provide free money to help people look for work or start businesses.

For other agencies outside of Atlanta, consult your Business White pages and U.S. Government section.

Business Incubators (Business Development Centers)

Incubators Throughout The 50 States (Most States)
Incubators are shelters for start-up companies and expansion-minded small firms, which can get technical advice and a place to grow at cheaper costs.

National Business Incubation Association
Look up their member incubator centers throughout the nation.

Advanced Technology Development Center (404) 894-3575
Business for technology driven companies. Companies just starting out can rent office space on the cheap. As part of the package, you will receive valuable technical support and be assigned a consultant to help with business management. The Center also helps match investors with companies and hosts programs on how to raise funds through effective presentations. They may also know of other incubators for non-technology driven companies.

Fulton County Business Incubator (404) 559-9466
Assists businesses that specialize in information technology and telecommunications. Applicants must be a brand new business that is licensed and operating, or a business with three years experience that is expanding, has a business plan and is be able to show it can pay rent. Rent ranges from $375-575 per month and includes office space, receptionist, conference room, training facility, office equipment, computers, business resource center, voicemail and security. For more information contact: Gregory D. Allen.

Grasp Enterprises (404) 659-5955
Their Marietta location assists service and professional firms while the location on Fairburn Road assists light manufacturing, distribution and warehousing. Mainly caters to women and minorities. Rent varies from $325 to $1000 per month depending on office size and location and fee includes office space, receptionist, use of conference rooms and library. Use of copiers, fax, training room and secretarial services cost extra. Contact: Maurice Coakley, CEO.

Intelligent Systems Shared Resource Center (770) 381-2900
Assists technology firms with priority to those with potential for growth. Start up companies with Internet related products or services should ask about their new "Internet Incubator". Rent may range from $325 to $4,000 depending on the type and amount of space required. The cost covers office space, utilities, conference and training rooms, office equipment, workshops and consultations with Intelligent Systems, as well as Internet access and customized phone services. Contact: Bonnie Herron, VP.

South Dekalb Business Incubators (404) 241-3522
Currently houses firms specializing in service, distribution and light manufacturing. By mid 1999, manufacturing, food service and retail are expected to be added. Entrepreneurs must be in businesses for at least a year, have business experience and the potential for hiring; meet zoning requirements; pay a $50 nonrefundable application fee; and develop a short "concept paper," a precursor to a business plan. Rent is $175-400 per month depending on space. Rent covers office pace, utilities, some office furnishings, conference rooms, office equipment and use of a computer. Contact Richard Younge, Director.

Incubators For Women Who Are Starting A Business

Go to The U.S. Small Business Administration Web site and "click" on "New Women Centers."