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Please Click HerePosted on March 4, 2013 by Derek L. Prestin
The Leahy-Smith American Invents Act (AIA) will be expanding the scope of prior art that may be considered by the Patent Office as part of the examination of a patent application on March 16, 2013. This change will result in significant changes to the consideration of prior art prior to filing a patent application and, […]
Posted on March 1, 2013 by Derek L. Prestin
The Leahy-Smith American Invents Act (AIA) will be making a significant change to the process of obtaining a patent in the United States on March 16, 2013, when the United States patent system transitions from the long-standing first-to-invent system to a first-to-file system. This change will bring U.S. patent law into line with the patent […]
Posted on February 1, 2013 by Amy E. Ebeling
State officials are warning Wisconsin business owners about “Corporate Records Service,” a company sending out formal-looking “Annual Minute Forms” to Wisconsin businesses in an attempt to collect confidential information and fees for unnecessary paperwork. The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions issued a news release earlier this week stating they have received numerous inquiries from […]
Posted on November 21, 2012 by Mary Ellen Schill
The Internal Revenue Service has announced the optional standard mileage rates for computing the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business, medical, and moving expenses for 2013. Effective January 1, 2013, the optional standard mileage rates will increase to 56.5 cents per mile for business transportation, and increase to 24 cents per mile for […]
Posted on October 23, 2012 by Steven P. Lipowski
The Federal Trade Commission has long had guidelines concerning the use of “green” or similar claims of environmental benefits to products by advertisers. Recently, these so-called “green guides” were updated for the first time in almost 15 years to reflect the new world of advertising claims promoting green or environmentally friendly products or packaging. […]
Posted on October 18, 2012 by Mary Ellen Schill
The Internal Revenue Service has announced the cost-of-living adjustments for the various qualified retirement plan limits. Almost all of the limits shown below are changed from last year. Qualified Plan Limit Cost-of-Living Adjustments 401(k) and 403(b) elective deferral limit 2012-$17,000 2013-$17,500 $200,000 compensation limit 2012-$250,000 2013-$255,000 $160,000 defined benefit limit 2012-$200,000 2013-$205,000 $40,000 defined contribution […]
Posted on October 10, 2012 by Mary Ellen Schill
It might not have seemed significant back in 2010 when Health Care Reform was enacted, but upcoming open enrollment for flexible benefit plans will have something new in 2013. Starting with the 2013 plan year, changes to the Internal Revenue Code mean that medical flexible spending accounts must limit employee contributions to $2,500 per plan […]
Posted on September 19, 2012 by Mary Ellen Schill
Have your Health Care Reform Checklist handy? Earlier this month we shared with you our “Getting on Track With Health Care Reform: Stop, Look, and Listen,” to help you “pack your bags” for a wild ride with Health Care Reform. First on the list is the requirement that employers report the cost of coverage under […]
Posted on August 22, 2012 by Mary Ellen Schill
It’s time to get back on the Health Care Reform train before it leaves the station without you! You are only allowed one carry on item, and you know you don’t want to pay to check a bag. So what should an employer pack for the short trip to get to the end of 2012? […]
Posted on August 16, 2012 by Christopher M. Seelen and Paul J. Mirr
On July 30, 2012, Wisconsin officially became a “title to lien holder” and an electronic title state. These changes were included in the most recent state budget bill and were approved by the Wisconsin Legislature in 2011. See Assembly Bill 40, 3129-3130 (2011). Currently, 38 other states are “title to lien holder” states. Under this […]