The WD-40 brand has a new interactive webpage to promote its partnership with legendary hot-rod designer Chip Foose.

The WD-40 brand has a new interactive webpage to promote its partnership with legendary hot-rod designer Chip Foose. On the site, visitors can view “Chip’s Tips,” a series of how-to online videos that show Foose using the WD-40 multi-use product to help build, restore and maintain vehicles. The site also has information about the WD-40/SEMA Cares project vehicle and a new series of collectible cans that feature some of Foose’s greatest designs.

Foose also has a redesigned site of his own at ChipFoose.com. New features include an updated design and layout, enhanced photo galleries, additional Foose merchandise and exclusive content. Foose can also now engage directly with fans and sponsors via blogs, videos and an “Ask Chip” section.

Go to Chip Foose's and WD-40's Facebook pages to “like” them.

	The WD-40 brand has a new interactive webpage to promote its partnership with legendary hot-rod designer Chip Foose.

The WD-40 brand has a new interactive webpage to promote its partnership with legendary hot-rod designer Chip Foose. On the site, visitors can view “Chip’s Tips,” a series of how-to online videos that show Foose using the WD-40 multi-use product to help build, restore and maintain vehicles. The site also has information about the WD-40/SEMA Cares project vehicle and a new series of collectible cans that feature some of Foose’s greatest designs.

Foose also has a redesigned site of his own at ChipFoose.com. New features include an updated design and layout, enhanced photo galleries, additional Foose merchandise and exclusive content. Foose can also now engage directly with fans and sponsors via blogs, videos and an “Ask Chip” section.

Go to Chip Foose's and WD-40's Facebook pages to “like” them.

The California legislature voted in favor of a one-year delay on collection of sales taxes for online transactions made within the state. Earlier this year, the legislature passed a law requiring online retailers with subsidiaries in California to collect sales taxes from their customers. The law, which took effect July 1, has been met with strong resistance by Amazon.com, the world’s largest electronic retailer. Governor Jerry Brown has until October 9 to sign or veto the bill.

Under the deal, Amazon will delay collecting sales taxes until September 15, 2012. In exchange for the reprieve, Amazon will cease its efforts to include a referendum to overturn the law on a statewide ballot next June. Amazon will also urge the U.S. Congress to enact the “Main Street Fairness Act,” which will set a national standard for collection of online sales taxes. The legislation, supported by Amazon, would recognize the “Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement,” an ongoing initiative by state and local governments to address the collection of sales/use taxes. The agreement creates a system for companies to register with member states, collect and remit taxes and file one tax return for each state. To date, 44 states have worked to create the agreement and 24 states are participating members.  

For more information, please contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The California legislature voted in favor of a one-year delay on collection of sales taxes for online transactions made within the state. Earlier this year, the legislature passed a law requiring online retailers with subsidiaries in California to collect sales taxes from their customers. The law, which took effect July 1, has been met with strong resistance by Amazon.com, the world’s largest electronic retailer. Governor Jerry Brown has until October 9 to sign or veto the bill.

Under the deal, Amazon will delay collecting sales taxes until September 15, 2012. In exchange for the reprieve, Amazon will cease its efforts to include a referendum to overturn the law on a statewide ballot next June. Amazon will also urge the U.S. Congress to enact the “Main Street Fairness Act,” which will set a national standard for collection of online sales taxes. The legislation, supported by Amazon, would recognize the “Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement,” an ongoing initiative by state and local governments to address the collection of sales/use taxes. The agreement creates a system for companies to register with member states, collect and remit taxes and file one tax return for each state. To date, 44 states have worked to create the agreement and 24 states are participating members.  

For more information, please contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

President Obama has submitted legislation to Congress designed to encourage American small businesses to hire new workers and expand operations. The $447 billion plan includes cutting the payroll tax in half for American companies on the first $5 million in payroll. The bill would also provide a complete payroll tax holiday for businesses that add new workers or increase the wages of current workers (up to the first $50 million in payroll). Companies that hire long-term unemployed workers would be provided a $4,000 tax credit. 

The bill would extend the current provision, which allows companies to expense most newly purchased assets over one year as opposed to depreciating it over multiple years. Among many other provisions, the plan would also create a National Infrastructure Bank to finance highway, rail and airport construction projects. The Obama Administration proposes to pay for the so-called “American Jobs Act” by limiting tax deductions for individuals making more than $200,000 a year and families earning more than $250,000. Congress has begun considering the bill. 

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

President Obama has submitted legislation to Congress designed to encourage American small businesses to hire new workers and expand operations. The $447 billion plan includes cutting the payroll tax in half for American companies on the first $5 million in payroll. The bill would also provide a complete payroll tax holiday for businesses that add new workers or increase the wages of current workers (up to the first $50 million in payroll). Companies that hire long-term unemployed workers would be provided a $4,000 tax credit. 

The bill would extend the current provision, which allows companies to expense most newly purchased assets over one year as opposed to depreciating it over multiple years. Among many other provisions, the plan would also create a National Infrastructure Bank to finance highway, rail and airport construction projects. The Obama Administration proposes to pay for the so-called “American Jobs Act” by limiting tax deductions for individuals making more than $200,000 a year and families earning more than $250,000. Congress has begun considering the bill. 

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.

The U.S. Senate has approved legislation to overhaul the federal patent system. The bill had already been approved by the House, and the White House has indicated President Obama will sign it into law. 

Under current U.S. law, patents are granted to individuals who can prove that they were the “first to invent.” The bill will switch the United States to a “first-inventor-to-file” (FITF) system, a method used by most other nations. One major drawback to the current system is that it allows an individual to claim credit and demand royalties years after someone else has marketed a product. On the other hand, it has been considered advantageous to small businesses without the resources to get to the patent office first. 

The legislation includes changes intended to improve patent quality. It will allow third parties to submit prior art for consideration and inclusion in the patent application record after it has been published but before the patent examiner has made a decision on patentability. The legislation will also create a new “post-grant review” (PGR) procedure, allowing third parties to lodge objections on any grounds during the first nine months after a patent has been issued. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) will resolve these disputes, potentially reducing litigation costs associated with court challenges.

The new law will make a number of administrative changes as well. For example, it will make it easier for an assignee to file a patent application instead of the individual inventor. The PTO will be allowed to set patent fees and maintain a “Patent and Trademark Fee Reserve Fund” for collected monies, which should allow the agency to address the current backlog of patent applications.

The new law also expands the one-year prior use defense to all patents.  Under this important provision, even if you are not the first inventor to file, you can defend yourself against a lawsuit if you made commercial use of the invention at least 1 year prior to the filing date of the patent sought to be enforced.

The patent reform law will also halt “false marking” lawsuits in which a company is sued because an expired patent is listed on its product label. An estimated 450 lawsuits around the country may be dismissed as a consequence.

The legislation has been debated and refined over the past six years and represents the first significant change to the U.S. patent system since 1952. Although adopting the first-inventor-to-file system is contentious, SEMA believes the new law will generally make valuable improvements which allow higher-quality patents to be issued in a more timely fashion.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The U.S. Senate has approved legislation to overhaul the federal patent system. The bill had already been approved by the House, and the White House has indicated President Obama will sign it into law. 

Under current U.S. law, patents are granted to individuals who can prove that they were the “first to invent.” The bill will switch the United States to a “first-inventor-to-file” (FITF) system, a method used by most other nations. One major drawback to the current system is that it allows an individual to claim credit and demand royalties years after someone else has marketed a product. On the other hand, it has been considered advantageous to small businesses without the resources to get to the patent office first. 

The legislation includes changes intended to improve patent quality. It will allow third parties to submit prior art for consideration and inclusion in the patent application record after it has been published but before the patent examiner has made a decision on patentability. The legislation will also create a new “post-grant review” (PGR) procedure, allowing third parties to lodge objections on any grounds during the first nine months after a patent has been issued. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) will resolve these disputes, potentially reducing litigation costs associated with court challenges.

The new law will make a number of administrative changes as well. For example, it will make it easier for an assignee to file a patent application instead of the individual inventor. The PTO will be allowed to set patent fees and maintain a “Patent and Trademark Fee Reserve Fund” for collected monies, which should allow the agency to address the current backlog of patent applications.

The new law also expands the one-year prior use defense to all patents.  Under this important provision, even if you are not the first inventor to file, you can defend yourself against a lawsuit if you made commercial use of the invention at least 1 year prior to the filing date of the patent sought to be enforced.

The patent reform law will also halt “false marking” lawsuits in which a company is sued because an expired patent is listed on its product label. An estimated 450 lawsuits around the country may be dismissed as a consequence.

The legislation has been debated and refined over the past six years and represents the first significant change to the U.S. patent system since 1952. Although adopting the first-inventor-to-file system is contentious, SEMA believes the new law will generally make valuable improvements which allow higher-quality patents to be issued in a more timely fashion.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) regarding requirements for replenishing salt to the Bonneville Salt Flats (BSF) when potash is mined on adjoining lands. The document, which can be read here (pdf), offers three options for a salt replenishment program. SEMA has joined with other organizations as part of the “Save the Salt Coalition” urging the BLM to mandate a permanent replenishment program that guarantees the same quantity and quality of salt be returned to the BSF, an option provided for in the EA. As part of the Coalition, SEMA will submit extensive comments to the BLM in response to the EA.

The BSF is a national landmark under the jurisdiction of the BLM. Hundreds of speed records have been set at this rare, unique geological site over the past 100 years. Originally 96,000 acres in size, the BSF has shrunk to about 30,000 acres as a direct consequence of an adjoining mining operation in which potash is removed from the salt. Between 1963 and 1982, an estimated 11 million tons of salt was withdrawn from the BSF. A prototype salt replenishment program from 1997 to 2002 demonstrated that salt brine could be pumped back onto the salt flats to stabilize the landmark and its underlying aquifer. The BLM allowed the program to expire, but it would be reinstated under the EA option supported by SEMA and the Coalition.  

For more information, please contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) regarding requirements for replenishing salt to the Bonneville Salt Flats (BSF) when potash is mined on adjoining lands. The document, which can be read here (pdf), offers three options for a salt replenishment program. SEMA has joined with other organizations as part of the “Save the Salt Coalition” urging the BLM to mandate a permanent replenishment program that guarantees the same quantity and quality of salt be returned to the BSF, an option provided for in the EA. As part of the Coalition, SEMA will submit extensive comments to the BLM in response to the EA.

The BSF is a national landmark under the jurisdiction of the BLM. Hundreds of speed records have been set at this rare, unique geological site over the past 100 years. Originally 96,000 acres in size, the BSF has shrunk to about 30,000 acres as a direct consequence of an adjoining mining operation in which potash is removed from the salt. Between 1963 and 1982, an estimated 11 million tons of salt was withdrawn from the BSF. A prototype salt replenishment program from 1997 to 2002 demonstrated that salt brine could be pumped back onto the salt flats to stabilize the landmark and its underlying aquifer. The BLM allowed the program to expire, but it would be reinstated under the EA option supported by SEMA and the Coalition.  

For more information, please contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.