Legal+Information

The name must include “corporation”, “incorporated”, “company” or abbreviation of similar meaning, including words or abbreviations in foreign language. The name must be distinguishable upon secretary of state’s records from corporate name or assumed name of domestic or qualified foreign corporation or name reserved or registered under Tennessee law; or the name of a not for profit corporation, limited partnership, or limited liability company.
 * Tennessee's Incorporation Requirements**
 * Corporate Name Endings**


 * Director Information**
 * Minimum Number – One or more.
 * Residence Requirements. – No provision.
 * Age Requirements – None.
 * Directors are required to be listed in the articles of incorporation.


 * Officer Information**
 * The officers are not required to be listed in the articles of incorporation.


 * Stock Information**
 * No extra filing fees based on number of share or amount of par value.

Yearly Requirements

 * Annual Statements
 * Every domestic corporation and every foreign corporation authorized to transact business in Tennessee (except state and national banks) must file an annual report with the Secretary of State by the 1st day of the 4th month following the close of the corporation’s fiscal year. Filing fee is $20.

Income Tax Rate

 * 6% of net earnings.
 * Also must pay an excise tax based on stock amount. The tax rate is 25-c- per $100, or major fraction thereof, of issued and outstanding capital stock, surplus, and undivided profits as shown on the corporation’s books and records at the close of its last fiscal year preceding the making of the required report. Minimum tax is $10

[|Charter_of_Incorporation[1.pdf]]

Patent Protection Process: The preparation of a design patent application and the conducting of the proceedings in the USPTO to obtain the patent is an undertaking requiring the knowledge of patent law and rules and Patent and Trademark Office practice and procedures. A patent attorney or agent specially trained in this field is best able to secure the greatest patent protection to which applicant is entitled. It would be prudent to seek the services of a registered patent attorney or agent. Representation, however, is not required. A knowledgeable applicant may successfully prosecute his or her own application. However, while persons not skilled in this work may obtain a patent in many cases, there is no assurance that the patent obtained would adequately protect the particular design.

Of primary importance in a design patent application is the drawing disclosure, which illustrates the design being claimed. Unlike a utility application, where the "claim" describes the invention in a lengthy written explanation, the claim in a design patent application protects the overall visual appearance of the design, “described” in the drawings. It is essential that the applicant present a set of drawings (or photographs) of the highest quality which conform to the rules and standards which are reproduced in this guide. Changes to these drawings after the application has been filed, may introduce new matter, which is not permitted by law (35 U.S.C. 132). It is in applicant's best interest to ensure that the drawing disclosure is clear and complete prior to filing the application, since an incomplete or poorly prepared drawing may result in a fatally defective disclosure which cannot become a patent. It is recommended that applicant retain the services of a professional draftsperson who specializes in preparing design patent drawings. Examples of acceptable drawings and drawing disclosures are included in this Guide so that applicant will have some idea of what is required and can prepare the drawings accordingly.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Cost for patent: approximately $1,235 [|www.uspto.gov]