“Shouldn’t we trademark our brand name?” This very common question is something we get asked all the time. Our answer is almost always yes. However, the timing of when this question is asked is extremely important.
Read More
On 05/17/2019, USCIS announced that it has completed initial data entry of all FY 2020 H-1B cap cases selected in the lotteries, including those selected under the U.S. advanced degree exceptions. Troglia Kaplan’s first FY 2020 H-1B cap receipt notice was received on 04/29/2019 with a Notice Date of 04/20/2019. Receipting could continue for several more days now that data entry is finished. USCIS will soon begin to return unselected cases and fee checks to employers, but has not identified a time frame for returns.
Read More
Until just a few years ago, visitors and residents of Chicago looking to enjoy happy hour specials at their favorite bar or restaurant would have been disappointed. Prior to July 2015, Illinois establishments serving alcohol were not allowed to offer drinks at reduced prices for a portion of the day. The statewide ban, which was enacted in 1989, was the result of a push to reduce the amount of drunken driving in the state.
Read More
Josh and Eddie talk about what everyone really wants to know (and needs to know) about the business side of music.
Read More
A large portion of our practice at Troglia Kaplan is within the music industry. We work with clients in every segment of the industry from musicians to managers to labels to distributors and more. Because of our diverse client base and years of experience, we are able to recognize certain trends, hot topics, common misconceptions and red flags while working within the music world. Each month we are going to look to highlight one of these areas that, to us, has a deep impact on an artist's career as a musician.
Read More
U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS) recently issued a policy memorandum, effective immediately, providing clarification on how it will calculate qualifying employment abroad when adjudicating a foreign national’s eligibility for an L-1 nonimmigrant visa petition.
Read More
On December 1st, 2018, Chicago began offering a new business license aptly called a “Pop-Up License”. A Pop-Up License allows restauranteurs and entrepreneurs to test their concepts without the burden, and risk, of signing a long-term lease or acquiring a license. The license is broken down into two categories; Pop-Up Users and Pop-Up Hosts. The Pop-Up Users are those who wish to test their business ideas in different locations around the city while the Pop-Up Hosts are those who are allowed to host Pop-Up Users.
Read More
Troglia Kaplan is pleased to announce the addition of our Immigration Practice. We have taken this initiative because we strive to serve as a business’ general counsel offering comprehensive guidance and expertise to our clients. U.S companies are now competing with foreign companies around the world more than ever. In a global economy, it is crucial that key personnel be able to cross borders expeditiously, with certainty and frequency.
Illinois is finally with the times – we are “going green”. No, I’m not talking about the upcoming approval of recreational marijuana – although that will help with the budget issues. No, today we are talking about another initiative taken up by other states, successfully, that has boosted state economies – P.A.C.E. Standing for Property Assessed Clean Energy
Read More
Eddie Sanders and Josh Kaplan are constantly fighting against the two most obnoxious, overused and antiquated words in the music industry: Industry Standard. For decades now music executives have relied on the industry standard as a way to mask or disguise a less than fair set of terms in a contract with an artist.
Read More
Sometimes speaking out works. @SoundCloud listened and modified its new artist contract. Thanks to some solid journalism (take that #fakenews), and the power of artists and their representatives (like yours truly), SoundCloud revised its new artist monetization agreement. The program introduced by SoundCloud four years ago allowed select artists to earn a share of ad revenue and subscription fees by monetizing the use of their music.
Read More
Previously we reported on the Music Modernization Act, a bill proposed to ensure digital music services pay fair royalties to the copyright holders, and where it stands during its process to be become an enacted bill. We are happy to announce that MMA has been signed and now is law! The MMA is a dense, comprehensive 170-page bill and we plan to break down various sections of the law. This article will focus on what are the next steps in implementing this new legislation and how songwriters should best prepare themselves for the upcoming changes.
Read More
President Trump has signed a bill (H.R.6157) to fund the federal government through December 7, 2018, preventing a federal shutdown after September 30. Immigration programs previously set to expire on September 30 will be reauthorized through December 7, including the EB-5 Regional Center program.
Read More
Illinois recently passed two significant changes to its liquor laws – HB 4897, allowing taprooms (retail outlets of a brewery) to serve beer and cider from outside producers, and SB 246, a modification of the prohibition on retail liquor sales within 100 feet of certain establishments such as a church, school, or hospital.
Read More
Previously we reported on the Music Modernization Act, a bill proposed to ensure digital music services pay fair royalties to the copyright holders, and where it stands during its process to be become an enacted bill. As we are aware from the timeless SchoolHouse Rock classic “I’m Just A Bill”, in order to enact a bill it takes time and votes from different levels of Congress.
Read More
As attorneys for many new ventures, our determination for the type of entity is usually brief. Between the additional bookkeeping, statutory requirements, and double taxation inherent with C-corps, most new ventures are best suited as limited liability companies.
Read More
It seems to be a constant battle for songwriters to economically receive what is rightfully theirs. First, fighting with labels over rights and royalties, then finding a publisher (big enough) to collect those royalties, now going after digital service providers
Read More
Wait a second…What just happened? Did the United States government actually try to address a problem that has effected millions of Americans for years by introducing a Bill before Congress? Did those blowhards in Washington D.C. stop
Read More
Maybe it is a millennial thing or maybe it is just a product of the industry but we consistently hear several things from new artists that are trying to make it to the next level:
Read More
There have been a ton of articles written about how the current revenue models created by streaming platforms are grossly unjust and woefully inadequate as far as compensating artists.
Read More