✨ Off the Shelf | Issue No. 1 — Summer 2025

A quarterly legal-ish newsletter built for beauty brands, not lawyers.
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​Brought to you by Trezanay M. Atkins, founder of tmalaw—your legal team for brand protection, regulatory compliance, and go-to-market confidence.

💡 The Big Idea

New Rules, New Risk: MoCRA’s First Big Enforcement Year Is Here

This summer marks a turning point. For the first time, the FDA is poised to begin enforcing key provisions of the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act (MoCRA)—and if you're a beauty brand selling in the U.S., you need to be paying attention.

MoCRA enforcement isn’t about scaring you into compliance—it’s about helping your brand grow smart. From facility registration to product safety substantiation, your paperwork needs to be as polished as your packaging.

• Facility registration is now required—and it has to be renewed every two years.
• Every product has to be listed with the FDA, not just your hero SKU.
• You must name a “responsible person” to handle safety and labeling compliance.
• You need a system to track and report serious adverse events—and yes, the FDA can ask to see it.
• Product safety has to be substantiated—and that means real documentation, not just a clean ingredients list.

We'll be unpacking more in the months ahead, but for now, ask yourself: 🧴 If the FDA knocked on my lab’s door tomorrow, would my brand be ready?

Not sure? We can help.

📦 Fresh Off the Shelf

This Trademark Just Got Registered: The Original Unbraider®

Big congratulations to our client, The Original Unbraider, on their newly registered trademark! 🎉

This innovative brand turned a beloved cultural ritual into a streamlined haircare tool—and now it’s protected at the federal level. We love to see Black-owned brands build long-term equity, and The Original Unbraider is doing just that.

🎧 Podcast Drop: The [Secret] Formula

Protecting the Secret Sauce Starts With You

In this episode, we dig into what it really means to own your innovation.

Whether you're developing a new formula, working with a lab, or hiring an outside consultant—you are the gatekeeper. Learn how NDAs, due diligence, and a “trust but verify” mindset can save you from costly missteps.

📅 Mark Your Calendar

Here’s what’s coming up:

• MoCRA Enforcement Begins: July 1, 2025
  (We’re watching this closely—stay tuned for updates.)
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• Upcoming Speaking Events:​
  Attorney Trezanay Atkins will be speaking to two business accelerator cohorts on trademarks
  📍 Virtual | June 28, 2025​
  🖇️ BBTI Business Training Institute
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  📍 Virtual | October 21, 2025​
  🖇️ Unstoppable Cohort: Food Business Accelerator
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• Beauty Events We Love​
  ​Beauty Accelerate 2025​
  ​Long Branch, NJ | March 12–13, 2025 | Hosted by Beauty Accelerate​
  A two-day experience focused on R&D, brand strategy, and cosmetic innovation—perfect for product-first founders shaping what’s next.
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  ​Cosmoprof North America​
  ​Las Vegas, NV | July 15–17, 2025 | Hosted by Cosmoprof​
  One of the biggest B2B beauty shows in the U.S.—ideal for discovering suppliers, testing formulas, or prepping for wholesale.
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  ​BITE NYC 2025​
  ​NYC, NY | September 10, 2025 | Hosted by Beauty Independent​
  A high-visibility showcase of fast-rising beauty and wellness brands—fully aligned with the energy and ambition of indie founders.
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  ​MakeUp in New York​
  ​NYC, NY | Sept 17–18, 2025 | Hosted by Infopro Digital​
  Laser-focused on formulation, packaging, and product dev—great for founders looking to level up their cosmetics line.
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  ​Beauty Connect LA 2025​
  ​Los Angeles, CA | TBD – Fall 2025 | Hosted by Kisaco Research​
  Designed for emerging growth beauty brands—featuring founder panels, pitch opportunities, and retailer/investor matchmaking.

(We’ll keep you in the loop as new events pop up.)

• Now Accepting Subscription Clients:​
  We’re currently onboarding beauty brands into our flat-fee subscription plans. If you’re ready to get legal support off your to-do list and onto ours, grab your spot now →​

❓ Ask tma

Can I trademark my brand if I haven’t launched it yet?​
​YES. And honestly? We prefer it.

Filing early lets us clear your brand name properly, map out a smart strategy, and often get your registration before you hit the market. That means fewer surprises and more peace of mind when it’s go time.

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🔍 What’s New at the Firm

Introducing: Our Trademark Monitoring Subscription

You’ve secured your registration—now it’s time to protect it. Our new flat-fee monitoring plan watches for confusingly similar marks and flags potential threats before they become full-blown conflicts.

✅ $750/quarterly or $2,500/annual
✅ Available for all industries (not just beauty)
✅ Built for serious founders who want to enforce what they own

​Show Me More or Subscribe →​

💌 Like What You’ve Read? Stay in the Loop.

You’re building a smart, stunning beauty brand—and we’re here to help you keep it legally strong. Subscribe to Off the Shelf to get legal updates, podcast drops, and brand wins delivered straight to your inbox every quarter.

📬 Subscribe to Off The Shelf →​
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