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Questions Answered by John Brendan Riordan
1 Answer | Asked in Copyright for Illinois on
Q: Hello, I have a question about copyright, please.

I have been writing a book with the working title "take back beauty" (all lower case letters in the title, intentionally). A search for the phrase produced a copyright from a cosmetic company, Anisa International. Reading the copyright info, my use of the term is not in the same classes... View More

John Brendan Riordan
John Brendan Riordan
answered on Aug 5, 2020

Hello, you are likely able to keep using this term. I believe what you are referring to are "trademarks" not "copyrights." A trademark is a "source indicator" for goods or services. These usually come in the form of a business name, logo, or slogan. Copyrights, on the... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Copyright and Trademark for Indiana on
Q: In 2010 I coined the name ColdArted. I recently discovered someone in Illinois trademarked the same name. What can I do?

In 2010 I coined the name ColdArted (Cold-Arted Creations, ColdArted.webs.com). I started signing my artwork in 2010 with that name. In 2011 I established a Google account with the same name. In 2014 cold-arted creations became a limited liability corporation. That was in the state of Indiana.... View More

John Brendan Riordan
John Brendan Riordan
answered on Jul 23, 2020

There is potentially something you can do. First of all, are you sure that the company you found on google has officially received trademark registration? If not, it would be worth having an attorney conduct a thorough USPTO trademark search for you to see if they have or if they have applied to do... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Copyright on
Q: do i need a wwe trademark

thank you boys

John Brendan Riordan
John Brendan Riordan
answered on Jul 17, 2020

Hello, I would need more context to answer this question. Are you asking if you would need permission to use the WWE trademark in connection with one of your goods or services?

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright and Intellectual Property for Massachusetts on
Q: Can a vehicle be copyrighted as a work of art?

I designed the unique custom paint scheme for my car. Many publications take photos of custom vehicles then produce a product, magazine articles, for profit. Can a copyright protect me from someone else profiting off my labors?

John Brendan Riordan
John Brendan Riordan
answered on Jul 16, 2020

Absolutely! You can definitley protect your design. Imagine someone took a picture off a photographer's website and printed it on their vehicle; just because they used it on their car doesn't mean they haven't infringed on that copyright! The important part is that it's not the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Intellectual Property on
Q: Hi, Is it possible to use other brands' products for contests/quizzes purposes?

Hi,

My friend and I have the idea of creating a website directed toward the creation of daily or weekly contests, in form of multiple questions quizzes . In this concept a prize would be at stake (eg. computer) and in order to win the prize the participants will enter the contest in... View More

John Brendan Riordan
John Brendan Riordan
answered on Jul 16, 2020

Hey there! The answer to your question is "probably." There is actually a famous case involving the band "New Kids on the Block" that addresses this exactly question. The case was when the band sued a magazine for using their trademarked band name in a pop-culture quiz. The... View More

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