FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A sewing studio with a dress form, sketches on a corkboard, fabric on a table, and clothes on a rack.

  • Cloth and Code Legal advises founders and creatives on protecting brand and creative assets and reducing legal risk as they launch and grow through trademarks, copyrights, contracts, and marketing and compliance guidelines.

  • Founders, creatives, and consumer brands building businesses they intend to protect and grow. My clients are most often in fashion, beauty, wellness, and the arts, though I also work with food and beverage brands, creative agencies, and cultural organizations.

    I work with B Corps, benefit corporations, and founders who treat social and environmental responsibility as structure, not branding. If your business model reflects your values, your IP strategy should too.

    Clients may be located anywhere in the U.S. or outside the U.S., as long as their goals relate to U.S. intellectual property protection.

  • You’re likely a good fit if you:

    • Want clear, practical guidance, not guesswork

    • Value careful planning, clean execution, and professionalism

    • Prefer a long-term approach (not a one-off filing with no strategy)

    • Need help making decisions about risk, naming, ownership, licensing, or compliance

    • Are building a brand or body of work you plan to grow, monetize, or protect

  • Cloth & Code Legal may not be the right fit if you:

    • Want the cheapest filing option or a “submit-and-hope” approach

    • Are looking for quick answers without a consultation or formal engagement

    • Expect guaranteed outcomes at the USPTO or in a dispute

    • Want an attorney to “rubber-stamp” a decision after you’ve already committed to a risk path (for example, ordering inventory, launching with a high-conflict name, or copying a competitor’s look or branding)

    If you’re unsure, the consultation is where I confirm fit and scope.

  • Very likely. I work regularly with founders building values-led businesses. The IP considerations for mission-driven brands often include sustainability and ethical sourcing claims, proper use of certification marks, licensing terms that reflect your values, and compliance review for marketing language that makes specific impact promises. If any of that sounds relevant, start with the intake form.

  • A business name (like an LLC name) is a state-level registration and does not automatically provide trademark rights. A trademark protects a brand identifier (name, logo, slogan) used to identify the source of goods or services, and federal registration can strengthen those rights.

  • Often, yes. A clearance search helps assess conflict risk before you invest in naming, packaging, marketing, and inventory. It can reduce the likelihood of refusal at the USPTO and minimize the risk of disputes.

  • No. Many creators file on their own. Legal support can be especially helpful when ownership is unclear, multiple contributors are involved, third-party materials appear in the work, or you want a strategy aligned with licensing or enforcement goals.

  • Many services are offered on a flat-fee basis with a defined scope and deliverables. Disputes or enforcement matters may be handled hourly or in phases depending on complexity.

  • No. No attorney can guarantee outcomes at the USPTO or in disputes. What you can expect is careful analysis, clear risk guidance, and thorough execution.

  • No. An attorney-client relationship begins only after a conflicts check and a signed engagement agreement (and applicable fees are paid). Please do not send sensitive or confidential information until you are directed to do so through the secure intake process.