Columbia Non-Profit Attorneys & Lawyers

What Are Cumulative Dividends?

If a dividend is sharing company profits to shareholders, then a cumulative dividend is a distribution made to the holders of special "preferred" shares regularly. It is unrelated to company profits.

Regular or "noncumulative" dividends are voluntary. This means the Board of Directors has the option of awarding them. This usually depends on how the company has performed each year.

However, paying cumulative dividends is mandatory. If the company can't pay out a cumulative dividend in any given fiscal year, the amount for that year is carried forward. It must always be paid out before any payments to common shareholders.

Not all "preferred shares" have the right to receive cumulative dividends. Some cumulative preferred shares carry limitations. For example, the company may only have to pay cumulative dividends if it liquidates. In addition, paying out cumulative dividends doesn't ta

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What Is a Contract Checklist?

A contract checklist is a step-by-step list that helps you organize a contract's key parts before finalizing it. This helps reduce miscommunication, set expectations, and make sure both parties are on the same page.

Why Is a Contract Checklist Important?

Contract disputes are common issues that require legal action to resolve. If one party doesn't hold up its end of a bargain, it might face a breach of contract lawsuit. A contract checklist tries to reduce the chance of this happening. It covers every aspect of the contract to make sure it's airtight. It removes vagueness and focuses on concrete terms that describe every aspect of the contract. Without a contract checklist, contracts might become problematic for one or both parties.

Because t

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Key Takeaways

• Cybersquatting involves registering domain names similar to well-known brands or trademarks in bad faith to profit from them.
• Examples of cybersquatting can be categorized as "name jacking," where celebrities' names are exploited, or "typosquatting," where common misspellings of websites are used for malicious purposes.
• Notable legal cases, such as those involving Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, highlight how celebrities and companies have fought back against cybersquatting.
• Legal actions are available through the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) and ICANN procedures for domain disputes.

What Is Cybersquatting?

Cybersquatting examples show Cybersquatting (a.k.a. domain squatting) is the act of registering, trafficking in or using a domain name in bad faith. Cybersquatters neglect the existence of a trademark to profit from others. In fact, domain names are cheap and are sold o

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Key Takeaways

• Unfair competition includes deceptive business practices like false advertising, trade secret theft, trademark infringement, and reverse passing off.
• Both federal (e.g., Lanham Act, FTC regulations) and state laws govern unfair competition.
• Legal remedies may include monetary damages, injunctive relief, or even criminal charges in extreme cases.
• Courts consider factors like intent, duration of misconduct, and financial harm when awarding penalties.
• Preventive measures like trademarks, NDAs, and employee training help protect businesses.
• State-specific unfair competition laws can vary widely and may provide broader protections than federal law.

What Is Unfair Competition?

Unfair competition occurs when another company uses wrong or deceptive business practices to gain a competitive advantage. The major category of unfair competition relates to intentional confusion of customers as to where t

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