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Robert Kost
Online, On-Demand Legal Services for Start-ups and Small Businesses
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Biography
Attorney Robert Kost works for Start-ups and Small Businesses in a wide variety of areas (see website for comprehensive list).
Robert has decades of experience in corporate law and practice on both sides of the attorney-client relationship. He is adept in a broad range of law related to businesses, contracts, corporate formation, policy and intellectual property.
“My goal is to provide the kind of ongoing advice that will keep your business out of lawsuits and out of the courts.” - Robert Kost
Practice Areas
- Business Law
- Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes
- Intellectual Property
- Employment Law
- Employment Contracts
Fees
- Free Consultation
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Credit Cards Accepted
Fees are fixed price for both retainer and discrete services
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- Maryland
- Maryland Court of Appeals
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- Pennsylvania
- Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
- ID Number: 327969
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Languages
- German: Spoken, Written
Professional Experience
- General Counsel
- US Interactive
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- Assistant General Counsel
- Prodigy Services Company (IBM)
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- Legal Analyst
- US Congress
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- Office of Technology Assessment. Intellectual Property Law and Technology.
- Clerk
- Federal District Court
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Education
- University of New Hampshire School of Law
- J.D. (1984)
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- Bowling Green State University
- M.A. (1982) | Philosophy
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- Honors: Honors
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- Kalamazoo College
- B.A. (1978) | Philosophy
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- Honors: Thesis Honors
- Activities: Swimming and Diving
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Professional Associations
- State Bar of Pennsylvania  # 327969
- Member
- Current
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- Allegheny County Bar Association Technology Committee
- Member
- Current
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Publications
Articles & Publications
- Intellectual Property Rights in an Age of Electronics and Information
- Office of Technology Assessment - US Congress
- Science, Technology and the First Amendment
- Office of Technology Assessment - US Congress
Speaking Engagements
- Blockchain in Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
- see: https://youtu.be/SEyAuApZbnU
- Intellectual Property Rights, Washington, DC
- Library of Congress
- Digital Transformation, Pittsburgh
- Center for Digital Transformation
- Systematic business transformation
Certifications
- Certified Business Architect
- The Business Architecture Guild
Legal Answers
41 Questions Answered
- Q. I am a wellness consulting company and I would like to know what are the basic terms outlined in a business contract?
- A: You can begin to understand the basic components of a contract here: https://www.contractstandards.com/public#contracts Choosing among clauses, authoring the right clauses, and assembling a contract that makes sense for you is the job of an attorney. It is a skill and an art, and is based on a lot of hard-earned knowledge. It is a cost of doing business and I know of no pro bono resources.
- Q. After a quote has been received and accepted, can a subsequent invoice be created and charged for a different item?
- A: I'm sorry: this question can't be answered as asked. Lots more detail and context is necessary. The question needs careful deconstruction. If this is an actual situation you are facing, and you are asking for specific advice, you should talk with an attorney. Good luck.
- Q. Can I still use the name My Wonderpaw if there is a trademark on Wonderpaw in the same industry?
- A: In theory, the answer is simple: no, you can't use the mark. However, there are other considerations. Let's assume you're referring to the mark at https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4807:hzp18o.2.2 * Are your goods/services in the same class as the registrant's? In this case, that is: "IC 024. US 042 050. G & S: Bed covers; Pet blankets." Look carefully at the international and US classes (IC 24 and US 42, 50) to determine whether your product could be broadly construed to fall in those classes. * The mark seems to apply only to the stylized form of "Wonderpaw," but digging deeper into the application, one finds that the literal word itself is also covered. * The mark is in the Supplemental Register, meaning that the registrant would have to prove validity were there a legal challenge to your use. Despite all of this, you may want to consider finding a different word for your product. Hope this helps.
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