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Ask HN: Do you incorporate your web apps or register them as trademarks?

• sabj 16y ago
  Not speaking here as a legal expert or anything of that nature, but I can't think of a reason why you would make a different company for each app; there would be no need. Disadvantages there include lots of fees, paperwork, and headache.
  • chc 16y ago
    If one app is particularly likely to invite trouble (e.g. Apple might sue your pants off), it might be a good idea to incorporate them separately so that even if that app goes bankrupt, all your other apps can completely ignore the blow. IANAL, but I know of companies that do such things for precisely this reason.
• callmeed 16y ago
  From the 37signals.com footer: The names and logos for Basecamp, Highrise, Backpack, and 37signals are registered trademarks of 37signals, LLC. The names and logos for Campfire, Ta-da List, Sortfolio, and Writeboard are trademarks of 37signals, LLC.
• robwgibbons 16y ago
  If you are a company that makes apps, you should trademark those apps under your company's name. That's the most obvious and elegant way to do things. If you're looking to separate a specific app from your company, whether to branch it out as a second company, to separate assets or to sell it off entirely, I would incorporate the app and trademark under that entity. The advantage of the first is its simplicity. A disadvantage would be, like chc said, if you're sued, all of your eggs are in one basket of liability. The advantage of the second would be legally separated liability. The disadvantage is paperwork and fees.