Klemchuk Kubasta LLP Launches New Social Media Law Practice Group

May 18, 2011 - PRLog -- Dallas, Texas, 18 May 2011 – The Dallas-based intellectual property (IP) law firm of Klemchuk Kubasta LLP announces that Partner Darin M. Klemchuk has been selected to lead the firm’s new Social Media Law Practice Group.

With the explosion of social media — Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn — businesses can greatly increase their contact with customers and attract potential new business online.  This presents unique opportunities for developing brand recognition, but also presents new problems with trademark infringement and brand confusion.  

“The millions of users who use social media daily create a broad marketplace for businesses to build brand recognition online.  The return on investment (ROI) for social media marketing can be enormous,” explains IP lawyer Darin M. Klemchuk.  “Social media also dramatically increases the opportunity for social and peer-to-peer selling.  While this presents a number of positive opportunities for businesses, the potential for band confusion, negative public relations, and worse, trademark infringement has increased exponentially due to the nature of social media.”  

Klemchuk Kubasta LLP’s new Social Media Law practice group is focused on providing companies with counseling and advice on protecting their trademarks and brands online, avoiding brand confusion in social media, and creating social media policies for employees to address unique employment issues presented by employees engaging in social media on behalf of companies.

“An example of a difficult problem is where a brand owner fails to register as a username on social media sites its key trademark or brand identity and that username is taken by a third party,” explains Klemchuk.  “Called ‘username squatting,’ this can present greater problems than even cybersquatters (where a third party registers an Internet domain name containing a trademark) because the millions of people participating in social media may be confused by the posts and other online activities of the third party or username squatter.”  

Jim Chester, partner in the firm adds, “Our clients are innovative, emerging companies who use social media to build brand awareness and market their goods and services.  It is our responsibility to advise and empower them with effective strategies for protecting their real-world interests in the virtual world of cyberspace.”
Additional information about the Social Media Law Practice Group is available on the Klemchuk Kubasta LLP’s web site at http://www.kk-llp.com/social-media-law.asp.  Updates and additional content will be posted on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Klemchuk.Kubasta.LLP.

ABOUT KLEMCHUK KUBASTA LLP    
Klemchuk Kubasta LLP is a boutique law firm offering comprehensive intellectual property legal services, including litigation and enforcement of all forms of intellectual property as well as registration and licensing of patent, trademark, trade dress, and copyright.  The firm also provides legal services relating to domain names, e-commerce, privacy policies, Internet law, commercial and business litigation, technology transactions, and international business & trade.  Located in Dallas, Texas, Klemchuk Kubasta LLP supports a diverse client base that ranges from individual entrepreneurs and startups to well-established multi-national companies.  Klemchuk Kubasta LLP also works with other law firms by serving as local counsel and offering specific experience on IP issues, and coordinates with foreign counsel around the world on a variety of matters.  Additional information about the firm and its attorneys may be found at www.kk-llp.com.