Legal Question in Technology Law in California

Re: Launching a Website - any legal actions needed?

There are basic corporate requirements. There is also intellectual property protection.

Specifically, you need to form a corporation, llc, or other business entity or, if you will be a sole proprietor, at least file a fictitious business name statement. You need to contact a firm which does corporate law for specifics.

You also should set up an intellectual property protection plan to protect your trademarks, copyrights, and other valuable property. You should contact a firm which practices intellectual property law for help in this area.

Re: Launching a Website - any legal actions needed?

It depends upon the antuer of your web site. However, I do not agree that you need to create a corporation or LLC in all instances, nor that you need to register at all in some cases.

If all you are doing is creating a community web site that has no intent of exchanging money in any way at all, then there are no requirements by the state.

That is not to say that there is nothing you should do. In many cases, such a web site would be well served by registration with the U.S. Copyright Office, for purposes of the DMCA safe harbor. Please feel free to call me at (650) 798-2418 if you would like to learn more.