Copyrights, patents, and trademarks can be among the most valuable assets of a business.
Criminal Law
Injunctions may be sought to prevent a violation of federal antitrust laws from occurring or to halt an ongoing violation of the federal antitrust laws. Section 15 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C.S. § 25, provides for injunctions sought by the government. The section gives U.S. District Courts jurisdiction to prevent and restrain violations of the Clayton Act and directs U.S. Attorneys, under the supervision of the Attorney General, to file actions seeking to prevent and restrain the violations. Section 16 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C.S. § 26, authorizes "any person, firm, corporation, or association" to seek injunctive relief against threatened loss or damage by a violation of the antitrust laws.
A company that decides to sell its stock to the public must file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The registration statement is made public as it is filed. However, the company may not sell its securities described in the registration statement until staff of the Commission has declared that the registration statement is effective.
Transfer agents and issuers of securities, pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code, may require a guarantee of the validity of the signature of the person transferring the securities in order to prevent a fraudulent transfer. The Securities and Exchange Commission has designated institutions that may issue such guarantees, and the Securities Transfer Association has developed the Medallion Signature program for those institutions to follow in guaranteeing signatures.
