Detroit & Chicago Business Organizations Legal Blog

Many in Detroit may summarily dismiss contract dispute cases as being petty squabbles between professional organizations. This may come from an assumption that all of these disagreements come down to a simple matter of dollars and cents (as in, both sides want more of them). Yet to fail to acknowledge the validity of the claims often made in contract disputes may be (at the same time) ignoring the very real problems being experienced by those involved. While the basis on their disputes may center on compensation and commensuration, the ultimate aims may be to simply allow them to continue to perform the services that their contracts call for. 

That certainly appears to be the case in a standoff between a school district and a teachers' union in New Jersey. The teachers are fighting to secure financial relief from a state law that forced school employees to pay more in health benefit plan contributions. These extra payments have cut into the teachers' take home pay, which some say is now less than it was a few years ago despite them having received raises during that time frame. Despite their desire to continue to support their students' education efforts, the teachers claim they cannot continue to work without this relief and still support their own families. Their hope is that remedies are written in to their new contract with the school district (they have been working without one since last July). 

For many Chicago and Detroit residents who have taken the plunge, there is no better feeling than starting a new business. As thrilling as a new start-up can be, there are often an equal amount of stressors. One of those speed bumps involves the initial stages of the process. The following information goes over some of those common challenges, and what new business owners can do to avoid them.

Knowing the potential obstacles ahead of time can work wonders for new business owners. Financial resource For Entrepreneurs shares a number of reasons why some start-up businesses fail, first mentioning market problems. Many businesses do not consider the existing market for their product; others simply have poor timing. For Entrepreneurs also raises the importance of a strong management team. Without a solid core, businesses often stoop to weak marketing plans or fall short of product expectations. In a similar vein, poor business models are another common way some start-ups suffer -- some business owners are overly optimistic about the number of customers they will acquire, but For Entrepreneurs stresses that thinking critically about this aspect is a must.

As many business owners in Detroit and Chicago are well aware, the advantages to bringing a company idea into fruition can be endless. By the same token, owning a business can come with a long string of challenges and confusion. When a business owner suspects that a rivaling company has presented an unfair competition, there are many aspects to be aware of. 

It is no secret that competition is simply part of the business game. No matter the size of the company, Forbes shares that it is easy for business disputes to arise after an idea appears stolen. Rather than allowing oneself to become immediately defensive, Forbes urges business owners to take an opportunity of competition as a innovative challenge. For example, similarities between businesses are natural; Forbes shares that adding an extra oomph to a product is just one way businesses can stand out from the rest. In addition, maintaining an awareness of competitors' strategies can also prove beneficial. While keeping too close of an eye on another business can be harmful, there is a healthy way of staying in the know of surrounding business methods in order to execute the best ideas.

With the midwestern portion of the United States being a key region for domestic manufacturing, it stands to reason that many businesses in Michigan or Illinois might need to seek intellectual property protections for certain inventions or developments. The World Intellectual Property Organization indicates that the goal of such protections is to encourage the ongoing innovation and creativity that furthers societal advancements. 

Copyrights, trademarks and patents are common types of intellectual property protections and each is used in select situations. According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, there are actually three types of patents that may be applied for. One of these is for the invention of a new design for an item to be manufactured and another is for the invention of a new process for manufacturing something. The third type of patent relates to botany for the asexual reproductive invention of a new type of plant.