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The company publishing/editing my book states I need an international copyright and they are trying to sell me one for $1,100 for a lifetime copyright. I have registered and submitted my book to the US Copyright Office with a receipt as follows:
The following files were successfully... View More 
answered on Dec 14, 2020
Yes, it sounds like an upsell. Most US authors only register in the US. Are there certain countries where you intend to market your book, and you are particularly concerned that you might have a large audience there, and it might be extensively copied there? If not, tell your publisher no thank... View More
I am looking at accepting employment for software development at a company that has a intellectual property clause. stating "Any invention, discovery, development, concept, idea, process or work related to our Company’s business no matter what form it takes, whether or not it can be patented... View More
answered on Dec 14, 2020
If this is important to you, then you should discuss the specifics with the company before you accept employment and sign any paperwork. Perhaps they will waive their rights in your project. If you start to work for them without an agreement about this prior project, then it could turn into a... View More
answered on Dec 11, 2020
In order to get an answer to this question, you'll need to have a confidential consultation with an intellectual property attorney, so that you can describe what you mean. Your innovation/idea may be protectable by patent, copyright, contract or other types of law, or it may not be legally... View More
I just created a graph this afternoon around 1:00pm with my name and date in the bottom corner that really impressed my professor who is a doctor in medicine. After getting off the phone with my father, he suggested I reach out and see if this is something that I could patent. Is there any way... View More
answered on Dec 4, 2020
A spreadsheet graph is not generally the kind of thing that can be patented. If you think it is truly new and innovative, I encourage you to consult privately with a patent attorney. Be prepared to explain it thoroughly, and keep in mind that your 1-year time limit for patenting already started... View More
I'm working on some open-source exercises for Russian language students, and for an alphabet-related exercise it would be very helpful to display pictures of Russian signs with English cognates that beginner students can read easily. However, I'm unsure of the legal implications of using,... View More
answered on Dec 2, 2020
Here, you are describing the intersection of copyright and trademark law. While it would be trademark infringement to open your own restaurant called Burger King, or to sell a hamburger wrapped up in a wrapper that says Burger King, you certainly can take a picture of a Burger King restaurant and... View More
For my logo I’d like to incorporate the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers lightning symbol but don’t know if I can because I don’t know if it is copyrighted/ trademarked.
answered on Nov 24, 2020
This is an interesting question because SCG Power Rangers LLC abandoned one of its Power Rangers registered trademarks (which includes the lightning symbol) back in 2017. Whether or not you can use a trademark without getting in trouble depends on several factors, which can sometimes be clear cut... View More
SCENARIO:
3 designers worked on a project where they were assigned to design an electric boat. They all agreed to work for a client based in Norway for 3 months at 7k euro fee. Later due to extraneous circumstances, the project timeline was extended to 9 months. The extra 6 months fee was... View More
answered on Nov 16, 2020
This is a mess. It sounds to me like you need a lawyer licensed in Norway to sort it out. It is of course possible for the designers and the client to negotiate whatever agreement they can all agree to. Failing that, you need advice about breach of contract and intellectual property law in... View More
Of course, drawings of the characters will be featured (looking how they do in the movies so you get the feeling you're really watching the show, but it's my own art, I'm not selling it, and VERY FEW people will see this, it's a private site, remember), so, despite this just... View More
answered on Nov 7, 2020
What you're describing is clearly copyright and trademark infringement, and Disney is well known for coming after infringers. I wouldn't invest too much money in the project, if I were you. You do see Pixar fan fiction on the internet, and Disney doesn't seem to be too concerned... View More
Dear Sir or Madam,
I'm an author of a children's book that was illustrated as "work for hire" by a freelancer. I got contacted by an author of another book who complains that I would be infringing her copyrights because my book has the same illustration style. The story... View More
answered on Nov 3, 2020
The way you describe it, it sounds like there is no infringement and you have nothing to worry about. Understand, however, two things: there are 2 sides to every story, and this person has the power to sue you and cause you to run up all kinds of expenses and costs, even if they don't... View More
I'd like to print and sell drawings from expired patents as art pieces. Is this legal?
answered on Sep 3, 2020
Drawings included in a published patent application are in the public domain, under long standing US law. In the unlikely event that a copyright notice is included on the patent drawing in the patent application, you should look twice. But, in most cases you can do whatever you want with... View More
answered on Aug 31, 2020
The original paintings by John James Audubon are old enough that they are in the public domain. Any other photos or paintings or drawings, however, which may be available through the Audubon Society, may not be in the public domain.
I have an app that lists information about menu items from a coffee chain with over 400 store locations in the US. Specifically it lists the officially recognized name of the drink that you can order, what flavors are in it, a brief description, and the various ways you can order it (americano,... View More
answered on Aug 24, 2020
Sounds like you're on the right side. If you're being clear to your readers and app users that you are not this coffee chain, and that they don't endorse you, and you're not selling coffee, then you're not violating their trademark. You are allowed to talk about... View More
answered on Aug 19, 2020
No, you can't copyright your name. Names, titles, and phrases are too short to merit copyright protection.
answered on Aug 13, 2020
Without knowing more, I'd say that it is unlikely but possible. If your invention doesn't change and improve an existing thing, then you'd only be looking at patenting a method to do something useful or to make something. If the method of using the existing thing is new, useful and... View More
Hi, student from Michigan. I'm considering starting a nonprofit project where we rewrite published free, publicly accessible scientific articles in simple language and re-publish them on the Web through our own website (freely available of course). I was wondering whether this counts as fair... View More
answered on Aug 5, 2020
I would say no. Best to get permission from the authors before doing this. They might appreciate your efforts.
The name of my business is GOAT Nails and I am wanting to make sure it is ok for me to use the acronym G.O.A.T.throughout my website.
answered on Aug 5, 2020
Interesting question - I would have thought that G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) would be too generic to trademark, but I see that some people have successfully done it. You should check the TESS database (tess2.uspto.gov) to search for all of the US registered trademarks with the word GOAT in... View More
answered on Aug 5, 2020
You can research this yourself at https://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/classification/
Use different keywords to research your invention - you may find more than one class that makes sense.
Keep in mind that regardless of what class you think your invention comes under, the patent... View More
(excluding books, photos, video)
answered on Aug 3, 2020
If something is truly in the public domain, then it can be used by anyone for any purpose. The trick is being able to tell for sure whether the work you want to copy is truly in the public domain.
You can find a definition of the types of "works" that are protected by copyright... View More
We customized the logo (colors, and words) and the other company just used the stock logo without customizing it from the free site and are trying to send us a letter in the mail from a lawyer saying we have two months to change our logo. We purchased it and have the rights to use for our business... View More
answered on Jul 21, 2020
Well, it depends. If this other company has registered a trademark for the logo for the same or similar goods or services that you are using your similar logo for, such that consumers would be confused between the logos, then you've got a problem. On the other hand, if the other company... View More
It's a safety system for school buses
answered on Jul 6, 2020
You can learn more about filing a provisional patent application at uspto.gov - there are many resources for inventors there. If you wish to do this yourself, you can use efs-web as an unregistered e-filer. Your documents should be in pdf format. Look into the requirements for micro or small... View More
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