The Brief
By Colella Legal Studio
Beauty · Business · Trademark
- 01
October 2, 2026
What to Do When You Get a USPTO Trademark Office Action
A USPTO Office Action is not a rejection. It's a formal communication with a hard deadline. Here's what it means, what the most common refusals require, and what happens if you don't respond.
Read → - 02
October 1, 2026
Independent Contractor or Employee? The Tests Pennsylvania and the Federal Government Use to Decide
Calling someone an independent contractor doesn't make them one. Pennsylvania and the federal government each apply their own tests, and a beauty business can fail one while passing another.
Read → - 03
September 3, 2026
Do I Need a Lawyer to File a Trademark?
You can file a trademark without a lawyer. The USPTO allows it. Here is what actually goes wrong when people do, and what it costs to fix.
Read → - 04
August 13, 2026
What to Look for Before Signing a Commercial Lease for Your Salon, Spa, or Retail Space
Commercial leases are written to protect the landlord, not you. Before you sign one for your salon, spa, studio, or boutique, here are the provisions that matter most.
Read → - 05
August 13, 2026
You Got a Trademark Cease and Desist Letter. Here's What to Do.
A trademark cease and desist letter is not a lawsuit, but ignoring it is a serious mistake. Here is exactly what to do when you receive one as a small business owner.
Read → - 06
July 7, 2026
Trademark, Copyright, or Trade Secret: Which One Actually Protects Your Business?
Trademark, copyright, and trade secret each protect something different. Most founders confuse them. Here is a plain-English breakdown of what each one covers, how to get it, and which one you actually need.
Read → - 07
June 8, 2026
What Your LLC Operating Agreement Is Probably Missing
Most LLC operating agreements are templated, outdated, or both. Here are the provisions founders skip that cause the biggest problems, and what to do about them.
Read → - 08
May 18, 2026
Name It Right, Back It Up, Label It Honestly: Beauty's Biggest Legal Moments This Week
Beauty brand founders: trademark refusals, greenwashing lawsuits, and a big FDA labeling rule are shaping the legal landscape this week. Here's what to know.
Read → - 09
April 25, 2026
FTC Influencer Marketing Rules: What Every Beauty Brand Needs to Know Before Your Next Collab
The FTC updated its influencer endorsement guidelines, and brands are on the hook for what their paid creators post. Here's how beauty founders can protect themselves.
Read → - 10
April 10, 2026
Pennsylvania Business Compliance Deadlines Every LLC Owner Needs to Know in 2026
Pennsylvania LLCs now have annual reporting requirements, federal CTA obligations are in flux, and the FTC is cracking down on junk fees. Here's what PA business owners need to do this year.
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March 28, 2026
Dupes, Knockoffs, and Trade Dress: What Beauty Brands Can Actually Do About Copycats
Dupe culture has gone mainstream, and for indie beauty brands, the legal options are more powerful than most founders realize. A guide to trade dress, trademark, and your real remedies.
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March 15, 2026
MoCRA Enforcement Is Here: What Small Beauty Brands Can't Ignore in 2026
The FDA is no longer in education mode. With MoCRA's key deadlines long past, small beauty brands that aren't registered and listed are now enforcement targets. Here's what to do.
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February 10, 2026
MoCRA Is Here: What Product-Based Beauty Businesses Must Do Now
The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act is the biggest overhaul of US cosmetics law in 85 years. Here is what beauty brand founders need to do to stay compliant.
Read → - 14
January 15, 2026
What Beauty Brand Founders Need to Know Before They Trademark Their Name
Before you spend years building a brand, make sure no one else can legally take it. A practical guide to trademark protection for beauty entrepreneurs.
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