Probably due to period dramas and school history lessons, I think most of us have grown up wearing rose tinted glasses and thinking that the world encompassed a much more disciplined and moral social structure prior to the 1960s “years of enlightenment” so it may be interesting for you to discover that 100 years ago drugs were readily available for common consumption and, on the whole, governments considered alcohol abuse to be the greater evil.

Before the 1912 International Opium Convention narcotics were trafficked across the world with scant intervention by authorities but the 1912 Convention committed countries across the world to stop trading in opium (produced from the dried residue of poppies), morphine and cocaine.  On the whole this drug was supposedly used for its “anaesthetic properties” but needless to say, things had got a little out of hand and use for “recreation” began in earnest.

The US embraced this document wholeheartedly, and the British said they were happy to go along with it and sign it although perhaps not quite as enthusiastically as the US!  In fact, Britain had fought two wars against China back in the 1800s in favour of the importation of opium.

Pre 1912

The opium wars saw us good old stiff upper lipped Brits battling the Chinese as we regularly shipped copious amounts of the drug through India and into China before it finally arrived on the shores of our “Sceptred Isle”.  However, China viewed the drug much as we view it today and were keen to restrict the amount being trafficked through their country.

Joe Public in the UK was able to buy opium, cocaine and poisons such as arsenic readily over the chemist’s counter and it if you’d lived or worked in any of our major ports in the UK, you would have found it amongst ordinary cargo being unloaded, and in 1785 The Times actually listed opium from Symya (now called Izmir) in Turkey in amongst oil from Leghorn (now Livorno) in Italy and peas from Dantzic (now Gdansk) in Poland being unloaded from a ship in London.

I was particularly interested to learn that, come the early part of the 19th century, travellers coming into my sleepy little home county of Norfolk UK were warned not to drink the beers and ales served in taverns as it could well be laced with opium.  At that time, opium was considered to be a great boon to ward off malaria which flourished in our wide expanses of wetland, known as the fens.  I suspect this laced booze was most prevalent in Great Yarmouth and King’s Lynn, our major ports.  But this drug was not only prescribed for malaria, it was also promoted as a cure for coughs and colds and was often given to “patients” for all manner of ailments in the form of laudanum – a concoction of opium mixed with alcohol.

Balmoral Castle, Scotland

Amongst the great and the good who were believed to have imbibed in this “wonder drug” were, most notably, Queen Victoria who ordered the stuff from the royal apothecary at Balmoral in Scotland and she is understood to have enjoyed a touch of opium gum with a very young Winston Churchill (later to become Prime Minister).

A Young Winston Churchill

And apparently Prime Minister William Gladstone took opium in his tea or coffee before he “took to the stage” when making speeches.  No wonder our British Empire turned to dust!!

In 1868 the Pharmacy Act was passed which restricted the use of opiates but, like so many Acts passed by the government over the years, it really wasn’t very effective.  It stated that any opium user had to provide a name, address and other personal details to the chemist before the drug could be handed over at the counter.

Limehouse, London (early 20th century)

Being an avid fan of Victorian history, it had, I suspect due to period dramas and Victorian based novels, been my belief that hundreds of bored aristocrats who had nothing better to do would lurk amongst the unruly and unwashed members of society in the east end of London doped up to their eyeballs on opiates or contracting sexually transmitted diseases from the vice dens, particularly those in Limehouse where the Chinese sailors settled but, according to recent research, there’s no real evidence that this was the case.  Thinking on it, I’m now considering that some aristocrats could undoubtedly be found there but feel it more likely that these “jolly good chaps” would prefer to mix with their own classes and imbibe in a gallon or two of good wine and have a flutter at the gaming tables, then stumble back to their gentlemen’s clubs to crash out in comfort and be waited on hand and foot following a “binge and a flutter” night.

Oscar Wilde

The belief that the upper crust of our British society spent hours in opium dens was further enhanced in Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray” where he referred to the fact that you could “buy oblivion” and “horrors and memory of old sins could be destroyed by the madness of sins that were new”.  However, around that time, the intake of opium which was considered a drug of misery was fast becoming old fashioned in favour of the more uplifting cocaine and of course, the most famous fictional character who took cocaine to lift his spirits was none other than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes who injected it to lift him from depression. 

Arthur Conan Doyle

It also became particularly popular with the more Bohemian members of our society – those arty farty intelligentsia and often highly strung artistic people who maintained it was vital to open up their minds when they needed a spot of artistic stimulation.

Fortunately the US didn’t perceive cocaine as a vital artistic stimulant and were more concerned with the association there with street gangs and, ultimately, with the usual (and still prevalent!) propaganda that this drug sent “black men insane” and thereby put poor defenceless little white women at risk.  This obviously had a knock on effect to drive the US to sign up to the 1912 Act.

Post 1912

Although the Act undoubtedly reduced the importation of drugs it didn’t stop individual  users and when the Great War (World War I) broke out in 1914, opium and cocaine were still legal drugs in Great Britain.  During the second year of the war there was concern over the general intake of alcohol in the front-line ranks which it was considered may have a significant detrimental effect on the progress of the war so, in 1915 stricter licensing laws were passed which led to a hive of underground “vice dens” particularly in the more theatrical area of London, through which so many of our gallant troops travelled before being shipped overseas.  Some of our gallant troops it seems were not particularly “gallant” however, and on passing through London headed to the brothels or made good use of the prostitutes within this area and this was a criminal offence.  With the new strict drink licensing laws it soon became apparent that brothels were selling sex alongside the still readily available opium and cocaine.  The government therefore brought in emergency legislation to restrict the use of drugs.

Towards the end of the war in 1918 journalists were keen to find another outlet for “shock factor” articles and began delving more into the seedy side of drug taking, most notably amongst theatrical celebrities.  One of the most famous scandals was based around the death of popular actress Billie Carleton.

Billie Carleton

Billie had attended an opium party the night before her death in 1918 and the inquest revealed that she had died from an overdose of cocaine.  Her friend, one Reginald de Veulle was subsequently charged with manslaughter and conspiracy to supply a prohibited drug.  He had bought the drug from a woman called Ada and her Chinese husband Lau Ping You in Limehouse, London.  However, de Veulle was acquitted of the manslaughter charge but was found guilty of supplying Billie with the cocaine and for this crime he received an eight month prison sentence.  Ada was sentenced to five months hard labour and her husband was fined £10.

Eventually, in 1920, the emergency action which had been put into place during the war, was made permanent in the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1920.

Freda Kempton

Another case which caught the public’s attention in the media was that of Freda Kempton, a  young dancer, who was found dead after taking an overdose of cocaine in 1922.  The journalists, who it seemed were targeting the Chinese community in connection with any drug death incidents, had a field day with this case as it involved a “poor young woman” who had obviously been seduced by a Chinaman, an entrepreneur known as Billy “Brilliant” Chang. 

Billy “Brilliant” Chang

Freda had been with Mr Chang on the night she died.  Needless to say, this did nothing to aid inter-racial harmony and it became apparent that the Chinese community as a whole would come under fire from the “native” British people who now considered that every Chinese man was out to ensnare innocent white women with his charismatic manners and force them to use drugs.

However, following the Kempton case this panic amongst the British that cocaine was having a considerable effect on our innocent little women, the fire dwindled and was soon extinguished although drugs were known to be dealt in Limehouse and in the “red light district” of Soho and, once the drug laws came in banning the use of cocaine and opium, the problem was so insignificant it was easily dealt with by the police.

The real drug problem began after World War II during the “baby boom” period which saw the rise of rebellious teenagers throughout the 1950s and 1960s.  These young people, due to the more modern and speedier transport links, were able to travel further afield and those who were getting into drugs at the time travelled to Morocco to smoke hash or find areas where they could get hold of amphetamines.

It was at this time the police found they were beginning to have problems containing the importation and taking of drugs and their efforts weren’t helped by various powerful international cartels.

And as we all know, this problem is still rife today – it seems the governments and law enforcement agencies are fighting an ever losing battle to get this deadly crime under control and I suspect that despite their increased efforts to stamp out illegal drugs, sadly there’ll always be a criminal out there who can find a way of outwitting them.

Take distribution for example.  When you think about licensing your intellectual property, especially if it is a product or service, you should consider how it is distributed. It’s important to remain aware and have a basic understanding of how your intellectual property applies to the marketplace. One way of understanding how your intellectual property applies to the market is understanding where  it fits -  and in this case understanding what the best distribution channels are helps determine who may be the best type of licensee.

Consider consumer products. There are a number of property categories out there – licensing categories if you will – each with different distribution channels For example, if  you have invented a product, think beyond it just being a specific type of product, such as a toy item, apparel, video game or gift item.  Perhaps there are multiple channels  - say gifts and toys, or specialty and online – that could apply to different formats or configurations of the product.  If so, then these other channels may offer licensing opportunities for additional licensees.

Introduction

This article will talk about the different strategic options a company has for entering and competing in a foreign market. The report will go in to detail of each option that is available for a company and will help distinguish between the strategies. This article will also give the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy and how to overcome the disadvantages. It will discuss situations when it is unnecessary for a company to try and compete in the foreign market, as well. Lastly, it will discuss the difference in a localized company versus a multicountry strategy, and when it is appropriate for a company to join either.

The Idea in a Nutshell

The concept that will be discussed in this report is the strategic options that are out there for a company to compete in a foreign market or stay localized. The concept is a guideline on how to choose a strategy that best fits your company or business, when deciding if it is right to compete in a foreign market. The concept goes in to detail about all the strategies possible and helps the decision making process a bit easier. This concept is something that most people do not realize how strategic and detailed the options are for companies. Lastly, the concept gives a point-of-view from large corporations, such as Coca-Cola, on their opinions and perspectives about localized versus multicountry competition.

The Top 10 Things You Need to Know About Strategy Options for Entering and Competing in Foreign Markets

• Export Strategy

The purpose of the Export Strategy is to maintain a one-country production base and export goods to foreign markets, using either company-owned or foreign-controlled forward distribution channels. Determining whether or not to export your product or services to the foreign market is where many companies get lost. There are a few things to consider when deciding to export your product. First, if your product is selling well domestically then it may sell well in foreign markets, assuming those countries have similarities to your country.  Another clue to whether or not to export your product is the uniqueness of your product. If your product is unique then it will probably have very little, if any, competitors in the foreign market, making it a successful product. Lastly, just because your product has seen recent decline in a market like the United States doesn’t mean the product wouldn’t succeed in other country’s markets. For example, if it is a product that was once considered state of the art technology and is no-longer up to date with the technology in the United States, then other countries that are not technology driven may embrace your product as it once was.  There are so me vulnerabilities to the Export Strategy when manufacturing cost in the home country are substantially higher than in foreign countries where rivals have plants, the costs of shipping the product to distant foreign markets are relatively high, or adverse shifts occur in currency exchange rates.

• Licensing Strategy

Licensing Strategy is defined as a business arrangement in which one company gives another company permission to manufacture its product for a specified payment, according to Entrepreneur.com. Licensing Strategies are not the most profitable strategy options for a company to choose, but they do have their advantages, mostly for medium and small businesses. Licensing Strategies are affective when a company has a patented product or unique technical advice that they neither have the option of entering the foreign market or opening their own plant or company. One advantage of licensing their product to a foreign company is that that they do not have the financial or legal risk of competing in a foreign market. Another advantage of the licensing strategies is that the company has the chance of avoiding foreign tariffs and nontariff risk that stop many U.S. companies from exporting in to the foreign market. However, there are some drawbacks from licensing a product or technical advice.  A major drawback is that by licensing your product to a foreign market, the foreign company that purchases the license may produce products that will directly compete with your product. All in all, if you find a company that is reliable and trustworthy than it is a great option to license your product.

• Franchising Strategy

Franchising Strategy is defined as a continuing relationship in which a franchisor provides a licensed privilege to the franchisee to do business and offers assistance in organizing, training, merchandising, marketing and managing in return for a monetary consideration. Franchising offers many advantages and is important in the globalization of countries.  One advantage of franchising is that you get to expand your company to a foreign country and it is most likely new and exciting to that country. Another advantage is when franchising it offers many job opportunities in that country. When considering franchising your company there are things to consider such as the price of training foreign employers, the support of the foreign community, and the monitoring of you company in the foreign country. The main problem companies have when starting a franchise in a foreign country is maintaining the quality of their company and product. For example, should a company such as McDonald’s allow China to add and change some spices in the Big Mac to appeal to the Chinese consumers. While there seems to be many disadvantages, the advantages out-weigh the disadvantages and will really help market and expand your products diversity.

• Strategic Alliances and Joint Ventures with Foreign Partners

Joint ventures and strategic alliances are very similar, but have small differences. Joint ventures require getting a third party legal entity, however strategic alliances do not. Also, an unspoken rule is that strategic alliances focus on smaller projects compared to joint ventures.  Some reasons for starting a joint venture or strategic alliance in a foreign market are entering a new foreign market, reducing the price of manufacturing, and developing new technology in a foreign market. One thing to consider when starting a joint venture or strategic alliance is the partner you pick and how to choose your partner. Both partners should complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses and neither should look to gain the other partners strengths. The strengths should be unique and both partners should be able to trust each other. Having a foreign partner offers many advantages such as the partner speaking the language of that country, knowing the culture of that country, and knowing the best locations for the business.

• Risk of Strategic Alliances and Joint Ventures with Foreign Partners

Alliances and joint ventures with foreign partners have many advantages, but they also come with a certain amount of risk. One of the main risks is that the foreign partner speaks a different language and either having to learn that language or have a translator for every encounter. Another risk the partners have to overcome, is figuring out how to handle the cultural differences of that country and the different types of business practices. For example, in Spain it is normal to take a two hour break for lunch or sleeping purposes and Spanish business men and women want to make a personal connection with their partner before doing business. Another risk you take with having a foreign partner is becoming dependent on their expertise and competitive knowledge of the region. Ironing out what is to be shared and what the businesses goals and strategies are is another problem that seems to arise because of differences in opinion of the company’s ethical standards and where the company should be heading.

• Unnecessary Cross-Border Alliances

There are some times when a company does not to make an alliance with a country to enter that country’s competitive market. For instance when a company is already a multinational company it has experience with entering foreign markets and most feel they do not need to depend on the expertise of a partner or manager from that country. To handle this problem the company will just hire a team of senior managers and local managers that are experienced in dealing with entering international businesses of other countries. The main purpose of using their own team of managers is to be able to transfer technology, business practices, and the corporate culture in to the company’s new country. The main purpose of the local manager is to give the headquarters information about the new countries local market conditions, buying habits, and ways of doing business. Multinational businesses often find that local partners often do not have the knowledge of the local market that they say they do or their practices may be ancient.

• Localized or Multicountry Strategy

Choosing between a Localized Multicountry strategy and Global strategy most commonly occurs when a company is competing in two or more foreign markets and cannot decide if they should employ the same strategy for all the country’s they work in or fit the needs of that country’s specific market needs. There are many different options that can a company can chose from such as the Think-Local, Act-Local Approach, the Think-Global, Act-Global Approach, and the Think-Global, Act-Local  Approach. Each option varies and a company needs to be able to distinguish which option best suits their company. Also each strategic option has ways to deal with cross-country variations in buyer preferences and market conditions.

•  Think-Local, Act-Local Approach

Think-Local, Act-Local Approach to Strategy-Making is when a country tailors its product offerings and perhaps its basic competitive strategy to fit buyer tastes and market conditions in each country it opts to compete, according to the book called, “Crafting and Executing Strategy.” This strategy is essential when there are big country-to-country differences in customer preferences and buying habits. The local managers that work under this strategy is delegated more power to make decisions using the knowledge of the local conditions. However using this strategy means meeting the needs of that country and thus each plant that is owned is making different variations of the product to fit the country’s needs. In the article titled, “Think-local-act local: is it time to follow Coca-Cola’s lead and slow down the pace of global marketing?” they talk about how Coca-Cola’s brand was once considered an insensitive corporation in the global market and did not consider the preferences of the country’s they did business in. the article says, “For this reason Coca-Cola has given back responsibility to local teams and wants local managers to be close to consumers. Local management will be allowed to develop local advertising and even to launch local brands if they identify the need for it.”

• Think-Global, Act-Global Approach

Think-Global, Act-Global Approach to Strategy Making is one which the company’s approach is predominantly the same in all countries. The strategy sells the same products under the same brand names everywhere and uses almost the same distribution channels in all countries.  This strategy of being global is best when country-to-country the differences are small enough to have the same product with no differences.  The goal of the strategy is to coordinate the strategy of the company worldwide and expand to all countries that are in need of the product, all from the company’s main headquarters.  The advantage of having this global strategy is that the company is able to focus solely on finding the cheapest and most efficient product, while still being able to have an advantage over the competitors.

• Think-Global, Act-Local Approach

The Think-Global, Act-Local Approach to Strategy Making is when a company employs essentially the same basic competitive strategy in all country markets, but develops the capability to customize product offerings and sell different product versions in different countries.  According to the book, “Crafting and Executing Strategy,” this strategy gives local managers the latitude to (1) incorporate whatever country-specific variations in product attributes are needed to best satisfy local buyers and (2) make whatever adjustments in production, distribution, and marketing are need to be responsive to local market conditions and compete successfully against local rivals.  This is basically the median of the Think-Local, Act-Local Approach and the Think-Global, Act-Global Approach and uses the options of both to meet the needs of the country in which that company works in. For example, Marlboro offers different types of cigarettes in the different countries they sell in, to meet the preferences and habits of the consumers in each market.  

The Video Lounge

The video I chose is titled “Strategies for Growth: Exporting Opportunitie,s” and it is about a business called Southwest Windpower. The owner, Andrew Kruse, talks about his process of deciding to enter and compete in the foreign market. He then talks about the steps he took to get started with the exporting his wind turbines to different countries. Kruse talks about how it was important to find someone he trusted in the foreign market he was entering. This video is a great example of how small companies are expanding globally with the different strategic options of entering foreign markets.

My Take

This concept of strategic options when competing in foreign markets is still relevant today and is still used by many big and small corporations throughout the world. For managers this concept is something that needs be a priority because deciding whether or not to compete in a foreign market is huge decision and a lot of research should be done before making the decision. This report really helps separate the different options for a business and why or why not they should enter the foreign market.  I also did additional research and was able to find an article about Walt Disney Co. and how they decided on different strategic options when building EuroDisney and Disney in Japan. The article says, “Disney’s mode of entry in Japan had been licensing. However, the firm chose direct investment in its European theme park,” and also saying, “Different modes of entry may be more appropriate under different circumstances, and the mode of entry is an important factor in the success of the project.” This shows that even one company may use different strategic options for different projects and exactly how important choosing the right option is important to the success of a business or project.

References

Developing an export strategy. (1998). Retrieved from http://www.unzco.com/basicguide/c1.html

Foreign entry modes. (2010). Manuscript submitted for publication, MBA, Retrieved from http://www.quickmba.com/strategy/global/marketentry/

Helms M., Marilyn. (2011). Franchising. Encyclopedia of business. Retrieved February 6, 2011, from http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Ex-Gov/Franchising.html

Schuiling, I. . (2001). Think local—act local: is it time to follow coca-cola’s lead and slow down the pace of global marketing?. Retrieved from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb4779/is_5/ai_n28892721/pg_3/

Technology licensing/joint ventures. (1998). Retrieved from http://www.unzco.com/basicguide/c6.html

Thompson , A. A., Strickland, A. J., & Gamble, J. E. . (2010). Crafting and executing strategy. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Vignali, C. (2001). Mcdonald’s: “think global, act local”-the marketing mix. Retrieved from http://teacherweb.com/MN/PineIslandSchools/NRusch/McDonaldsMarketingMix.pdf

Walters A., Bruce. (1994). Strategic alliances and joint ventures: making them work – corporate collaborations. Retrieved from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1038/is_n4_v37/ai_15636442/

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Contact Information

To contact the author of “The Top 10 Things You Need to Know About Strategy Options for Entering and Competing in Foreign Markets,” please email Justin T. Schneider at Justin.Schneider@selu.edu and Justin.Schneider18@gmail.com.

Biography

David C. Wyld (dwyld.kwu@gmail.com) is the Robert Maurin Professor of Management at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. He is a management consultant, researcher/writer, and executive educator. His blog, Wyld About Business, can be viewed at http://wyld-business.blogspot.com/. He also serves as the Director of the Reverse Auction Research Center (http://reverseauctionresearch.com/), a hub of research and news in the expanding world of competitive bidding. Dr. Wyld also maintains compilations of works he has helped his students to turn into editorially-reviewed publications at the following sites:

• Management Concepts (http://toptenmanagement.blogspot.com/)
• Book Reviews (http://wyld-about-books.blogspot.com/) and
• Travel and International Foods (http://wyld-about-food.blogspot.com/).                 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

They believe that this problem could be greatly improved if state licensing was enacted.  They claim that attorneys would feel more confident hiring paralegals who passed state licensing tests.  In addition, it would protect consumers by guaranteeing a certain level of proven ability.  Plus, the licensing body could aid in maintaining and preserving high-quality work by issuing sanctions for failing to maintain standards.

In today’s paralegal market, there are no real set standards.  An outspoken supporter of state-by-state licensing, Hope Viner Samborn who is a lawyer and faculty member at Loyola University Institute for Paralegal Studies, claims, “Now anyone can call himself or herself a paralegal or legal assistant.  No state licenses these professionals.”  (ABA Journal, December 1992).

Requirements for licensing is another area of debate.  Samborn states, “For licensing, states should require paralegals to take a practical proficiency test, to pass character evaluations, and to meet such minimum educational requirements as a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.  In addition, states should enact criminal penalties for individuals who…fail to meet stringent licensing requirements.”  (ABA Journal, Dec. 1992)  It’s reasonable to assume that her thoughts and ideas are representative of her pro-licensing peers.

Part of the requirement debate is centered around the numerous paralegal courses being offered on the market.  The length, depth, and course work in these programs vary greatly.  Samborn points out that “As of August 1992, only 162 of the more than 600 paralegal programs met the ABA’s stringent educational standards for program approval.”  (ABA Journal, Dec. 1992)

Another claim of supporters involves licenses offering legitimacy to paralegals.  Many have suggested that a two-tier system consisting of top-tiered lawyers and bottom-tiered paralegals will be the future of legal representation.  An ABA Gallop poll summarized the situation:  “By licensing paralegals through the same agencies as lawyers, the profession would, in effect, take on a two-tier appearance.  For paralegals, the entry tier would be the more form-oriented procedures lawyers say they should be allowed to handle.”  (ABA Journal, Dec. 1993)

Opponents believe that mandatory state licensing will increase legal fees to consumers.  Licensing fees and/or dues and a four-year college degree are expenses that would force paralegals to charge more to offset the costs.  It’s nearly unanimously accepted that consumers are seeking independent paralegal services to receive lower fees.  Lawyers use paralegals, too, as a means of charging clients less in fees.  When this information is coupled with the fact that most low-to-middle income families are unable to afford lawyer services it becomes a big issue.  Deborah Chalfie, HALT (Help Abolish Legal Tyranny) organization’s legislative director claims, “Everyone-including the ABA-agrees there’s a national crisis in access to legal services.  Study after study shows that even middle-income consumers can’t get affordable legal help.”  (ABA Journal, March 1991)

Opponents claim that licensing will fail to assure quality of work while supporters feel that licensing is the only way to achieve that assurance.  Chalfie states that there were “nearly 100,000 complaints filed against lawyers in 1989.  Obviously, there is no “public protection” guarantee provided by lawyer’s exclusive license to practice the law.”  (ABA Journal, March 1991)

Her fellow HALT member, Theresa Meehan Rudy, supports this claim of licensing not equating to high-quality professional standards.  Rudy states, “Studies of licensing in professions…prove that schemes such as these do little to protect the consumer from unscrupulous or incompetent practitioners” and “…meeting the general qualifications for a license…is not sufficiently related to being a good paralegal”.  (ABA Journal, December 1992)

Lastly, opponents claim that licensing will limit the number and diversity of paralegals.  To switch from a system where most skills are learned from on-the-job training to requiring a four-year degree for an entry-level position is a major difference.  It stands to reason that the number of paralegals would dramatically decline.  With college enrollment statistics favoring upper-to-middle class whites, the diversity of paralegals would surely be affected by requiring a bachelor’s degree in order to take the state licensing exam.

Whether licensing will be required in the future or not, this debate realizes the growing and changing role of paralegals in the legal profession.  The duties required of a vast amount of modern paralegals reaches far beyond the role of a secretary or receptionist.  An increasing amount of work is being handled by these professionals, and independent paralegals are fulfilling that workload without the supervision of an attorney.

I believe that state-by-state licensing will be required by an increasing number of states.  I don’t know if all states will ever require it, but I do believe that California will not be the only state that makes it mandatory, especially for independent paralegals who do work directly with the public without lawyer supervision.  Although, I believe that the future of the profession is headed in that direction, I do not believe that it should be a requirement for all paralegals.  If the state requires licenses and mandatory bachelor degrees among other prerequisites, the fees for paralegal services would dramatically increase.  The whole point of hiring paralegals to perform the rountine tasks of the job is to keep costs down for both lawyers and consumers.  The legal system has effectually shut-out the poorest people in the country and a large number of middle income families, as well.  These people deserve affordable help with their legal troubles and unlicensed paralegals are helping them achieve it.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

An invention that needs a patent

Patience on the one hand and an assertive businesslike demeanor unless you are talking to a mentor in the invention field

Books by an author that I will mention later

Step One

Patents are called intellectual property. When you get a patent you put the general information in the provisional patent. This is called patent pending. So that while you were patent pending and you were showing it to people and making changes if the finished product after all that input is very different you don’t have to start all over from square one. This is important because you can use the date of the provisional patent as the date for your full patent.

Step Two

You need a non-provisional patent which will protect you more because it has claims meaning you can modify your invention later. So you need a full utility patent or a non-provisional patent so you can modify your product as you go along which is only fair.

Step Three

There are some patent attorneys who will try to sell you a design patent. Don’t do it. This is a cheap patent and you think you are saving money but you cannot modify your product and if you do you have to start all over. That is why you need a full utility patent or a non-provisional patent.

Step Four

You need books by author Don Debelak to learn more about inventions.

Mr.Richard Clark, Attorney at Law in Nassau County, NY is like “Rain Man” when it comes to patents according to the source of this article Mr. Brian Fried ( I was in his patent seminar at the library and it was good!) who recommends him highly. Mr. Clark is an older gentleman with lots of experience with patents and he really knows his stuff and he is affordable. However, please do not contact either of these two men unless you have a serious question about patents. They are busy men and do not have time for games.

Tips & Warnings

You might need a product designer to put your product together as most people think they need a product engineer.

Article Credits

* Mr. Brian Fried inventor of the Baloon-A-Band.

There are multiple advantages and no disadvantages with such an efficient system in place. First of all, this would ensure traffic safety. Sometimes, traffic safety promotions simply do not work. So it is upto the civic administration to put such a system in place. This system would also ensure systematic traffic flow making traffic flow more faster and more organized.

There are many economic advantages to this too.

With systemized traffic requiring driving licensees, there would be a spurt of issuing of new driving new licenses. Driving schools would thrive and the civic body can collect revenue by issuing driving licenses.

A systemized traffic would encourage people to buy more vehicles. This would boost the automotive and other allied industries.

An efficient management system would mean lesser misuse of roads which translates to lesser maintenance costs of the roads and even of the vehicles and that would mean better pollution under control. If there was to be any misuse, there would be heavy fines and that would mean more revenue for the city administration. That money could be used to build better roads and create superior infrastructure for the public.

A smoother and faster traffic would mean people reaching their workplaces on time which would mean higher work hours and more productivity.

With the system in place, rash driving would come under control, more revenue is generated for the city, road safety is ensured, people are now able to commute properly and safely and it is no longer an eye sore. There are more advantages to such a system in place. Therefore, we must strive to establish such a system and have peace of mind while commuting on the roads.

The quality of the country’s roads will decide the pace at which work is done and the pace at which our country develops.

·         Copyright musical compositions and songs

·         Secure recording rights of songs

·         Secure performance rights to broadcasting television and radio

·         Arrange for the manufacturing of sheet music

·         Secure song usage rights for advertising

·         Monitor Copyright infringement and facilitate applicable lawsuits

·         Register songs with ASCAP and BMI

·         Inform clients of changes in the industry regarding laws and standards

·         Promote new songs and compositions in the industry

·         Negotiate fees for licensing

·         Discovering new usages for licensing of song material

·         Explore international options for marketing of music

·         Promote positive legislation on behalf of the artist’s interests

·         Keep track of trends in all broadcast media so as to make suggestions for future songs

As can be seen by this above list, the music publisher plays a key role in the success of any songwriter or composer in the music business. If you are looking to break into the field, sometimes it’s not the best thing to simply find an agent and wait for a job opportunity. The music publisher, though similar to the role of an agent, is able to find opportunities that the average agent can not as they are involved with licensing.

Licensing of song usage is an incredible money earner as you can earn cash each time your song is played at sporting events, on the radio, on television and in movies. While some of these deals may not seem incredibly lucrative, think about how some people are able to write one hit song then live off of the licensing royalties for the rest of their lives.

Click here for tips on How to Play Blues Piano

Image via Wikipedia