SarahFall2015-6745.jpg
 
 
protect_passion2.jpg
 

So you finally took the giant LEAP of turning your passion into an online business, congrats! And whether you are a coach, healer, web designer, freelancer, photographer, or insert-your-passion-here —  it is a quite a ride, I know.

WONDERING HOW THE HECK TO PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS?

As a savvy biz owner, you know that one of the first things you need to do is make sure YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS are protected.  

WELCOME TO DESTINATION LEGAL.

THE *DESTINATION* FOR COACHES AND CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS TO GET LEGIT.

Hey, I'm Sarah. And I help entrepreneurs like you PROTECT YOUR PASSION.™

A major obstacle for many people when taking their business online is getting the legal situation straight. This is scary and a bit overwhelming but no worries, we’ve got this!

black_bg.jpg
 

Having Sarah's hands on my business's legal situation was pure gold. I felt totally supported, secure, and peaceful during the entire process of getting all of the important legal aspects of my business taken care of. I stepped even more into my CEO shoes, slept better at night, and ultimately knew that as my passive income products, programs, etc. continued to grow that I would be protected. I recommend Sarah to all my friends and clients for this same exact reason. Legal may not be the sexiest part of business, but it's certainly one of the most important and I was so glad to have Sarah by my side in this process. 
— Lacey Craig, alituplife.com

 
Florida #sunset #yesplease
Keep your images legit!!! How to legally use images on your blog! I talk about this one a lot but that is because I see people committing copyright infringement ALL. THE. TIME. A few months ago I got an email from a super visible (multi-seven figure) coach who included an image in her newsletter from a Instagram woman that I follow - without any attribution at all. Now, yes, there is a chance she reached out to this woman and asked for permission, but in all likelihood had this happened, there would have been attribution as most people wouldn’t be like - sure, use my photo, but don’t give me credit. (Note - it has become accepted practice to repost other people’s images on Instagram and give them credit - but you can’t take their images OFF of Instagram for use elsewhere without permission, even if you give them credit). Here’s how to keep your use of images legit: 1. Ask permission! Just linking to someone else’s picture and giving them credit isn’t necessarily going to protect you. It could still be considered infringement. Now, the online space is such that plenty of people appreciate you linking to their image, giving them credit, etc., but you must understand that they also have the right to come at you if they want. Note - plenty of bloggers may be fine with you reposting, linking, etc., just check their Terms of Service so you know! 2. Use stock photos - there are plenty of sites out there now that offer free (or purchased) photos that are for public use (e.g., Pexels, Canva to name a few) 3. Use licensed images - there are sites that license images (e.g., Creative Commons) and give you the right to use, but make sure you understand your license, how/if you need to attribute it, how long it lasts, etc. Also be aware, if you have a web designer creating your site, YOU are still responsible for making sure your images are legit and YOU will be the one held legally responsible if you are found to be infringing. What can happen? If you take and use someone’s image that has been registered with the US government, you may have to pay anywhere from $200-150K in statutory damages!
Maine mornings. #nofilter
Have a blog and want to protect your writing as much as possible? Registering your blog posts with the U.S. Copyright Office gives you legal grounds to bring a lawsuit for copyright infringement. If you’re familiar with copyright basics, you know that copyright protection is automatic and your posts are YOUR property the minute you publish each post on your blog. However, to have legal standing to bring a lawsuit, you must register that post with the U.S. (or other) government. To register on the U.S. copyright registration portal, submit an application, payment, and your blog posts. You can register a whole pile at once. Many bloggers get into the habit of registering a bundle of posts every quarter. The cost is minimal ($35-$55) and comes with big peace of mind. If you don’t register your blog posts, your recourse if someone steals your blog posts is somewhat limited to a cease and desist letter or the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). (You’ll learn about those options from me soon (if you haven’t already).) However, if you register your posts, you can bring an action in court and automatically be awarded statutory damages (read: money, money, money). Copyright infringement is a serious crime, and registering your blog posts gives you rights against (and monetary reward from) anyone who steals your content. Awards for copyright infringement can range from $750 to $30,000, or even as high as $150,000 under certain circumstances such as willful infringement. P.S. This is not legal advice, just education.
Cart (0)