Legal Question in Technology Law in Minnesota
liquidation of partnership
In February 2007 I opend a partnership so that my partner and I could have joint copyright of a book that she was writing and I was illustrating. We want to stop the partnership but she wont stop it until I give her full copyright. There is no partnership agreement. just registration of the partnership. She has voluntarily paid for publishing cost for 1200 US DOLLARS she now threatens with asking me to pay half if I dont hands over all rights to her. Can she do that? Who needs to pay who out? Do we need to split the asset being the book? How do we do that? I want to not be liable for her future use of the business name. Can I make a statement stating via email that she will not allow me to end the partnership but I am not responsible for her actions and am not responsible for any debt incurred?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: liquidation of partnership
Did you actually file for a copyright with the U.S. Office of Trademarks and Patents? If so, how is title to the copyright held?
When you say you "registered" the partnership, what did you file and with whom did you file it?
Are there any accounts or credit cards in the name of the partnership or in both of your names?
You need the assistance of a lawyer to undo this and prepare an appropriate agreement between the two of you as to how the assets and liabilities are divided. You merely telling your partner something without your partner agreeing to it probably has little effect between the two of you and generally has no effect with respect to 3rd party creditors.
If you e-mail me some of this information, I can better respond to your questions.
Re: liquidation of partnership
In order to liquidate you will need to either bring a court action or convince your partner to come to agreement. I have 25 years business law experience and have handled many partnership disputes.
Call or email for help.
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