Blogs
How to Value a Company in a Shareholder Buy-Sell Agreement or in an Operating Agreement
by evansfox | Mar 20, 2026 | Business Law, Buying/Selling a Business, General Business, Tips For the Entrepreneur
When business partners form a company, they often focus on growth, strategy, and operations. It is also important to plan for what happens when an owner leaves. Ownership transitions happen for many reasons including retirement, death, disability, disputes between...
Proposed Legislation in New York State May Reduce Barriers for Sale of RTD Cocktails Containing Spirits
by evansfox | Mar 11, 2026 | Brewery & Cidery, Craft Beverage Branding, Distillery, Restaurants & Bar, Retail Liquor License, Wineries
The FY 2026 New York State Budget contained proposed legislation aimed at reducing barriers for sale of ready to drink (“RTD”) cocktails containing distilled spirits. This is good news for a nationally struggling alcohol industry, allowing businesses to capitalize on...
Label Compliance and Regulatory Control in a Co-Packed World
by evansfox | Mar 4, 2026 | Brewery & Cidery, Business Law, Craft Beverage Branding, Distillery, Restaurants & Bar, Retail Liquor License, Wineries
In Parts 1 and 2, we discussed structure and IP ownership. Now we address where brand owners most often encounter regulatory trouble: The label is not marketing—it is a regulated legal statement. Why Labeling Becomes Complicated Under the Brand Owner Model TTB rules...
Your Recipe Is Intellectual Property: Protecting Formulas in Co-Packing Agreements
by evansfox | Feb 25, 2026 | Brewery & Cidery, Craft Beverage Branding, Distillery, Intellectual Property, Restaurants & Bar, Retail Liquor License, Wineries
In Part 1, we explored how New York’s Brand Owner model separates brand creation from manufacturing. Now we turn to the asset that drives the entire business: Your formula is not just a recipe—it is protectable intellectual property. How Brand Owners Accidentally Lose...
The New York Brand Owner Model: What New York Brand Owners Need to Know About Co-Packing, IP Ownership, and Label Compliance in 2026
by evansfox | Feb 23, 2026 | Brewery & Cidery, Craft Beverage Branding, Distillery, Restaurants & Bar, Retail Liquor License, Wineries
New York’s evolving regulatory landscape for alcoholic beverages—particularly the emergence of the Brand Owner license concept—has opened the door for entrepreneurs who want to build beverage brands without operating their own manufacturing facilities. This structure...
2025 NY Alcohol Beverage Control Law Update for Retailers
by evansfox | Feb 19, 2026 | Brewery & Cidery, Craft Beverage Branding, Distillery, Restaurants & Bar, Retail Liquor License, Wineries
What’s New For Restaurants & Bars There is a new For-Profit Club License (A7040-B / S652-A; Ch. 342, signed Aug. 22, 2025)for private membership-style clubs (e.g., recreational/social/patriotic/political/benevolent/ workspace/corporate dining/athletic)....
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP): A Must for NY Cannabis Processors
by evansfox | Feb 10, 2026 | CBD
All adult-use and medical cannabis products in New York State must be processed according to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards. It is mandatory for all licensees and registrants to comply with GMP for the duration of their license. The objective of imposing...
Enforcing Trademark Rights in AI Avatars: Copycats, Platforms, and Knockoff Merch
by evansfox | Feb 10, 2026 | Trademark
This is the final article in our three-part series on trademark protection for AI-generated avatars. In Part 1, we examined when avatars can function as trademarks. In Part 2, we reviewed how to register those rights at the USPTO. This article focuses on what happens...
Trademarking AI Avatars: USPTO Filing Strategies, Classes, and Practical Examples
by evansfox | Feb 5, 2026 | Trademark
This article builds on Part 1 of our three-part series on protecting AI-generated avatars, where we discussed how avatars used on platforms like YouTube and TikTok can function as trademarks. Here, we take the next step and examine how those rights are actually...
Can You Trademark an AI-Created Avatar Used on YouTube, TikTok, and for Merch?
by evansfox | Feb 2, 2026 | General Business, Trademark
As creators and businesses increasingly rely on AI-generated avatars to host content, narrate videos, and anchor online brands, creators and business owners must now navigate whether and how these brand assets can be protected and how proprietary rights can be...
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