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Questions Answered by Vincent Thomas Lyon
1 Answer | Asked in Copyright for California on
Q: Is it possible to copyright a email address?
Vincent Thomas Lyon
Vincent Thomas Lyon
answered on Apr 22, 2011

No. Names cannot be registered for copyright.

You could register it as a trademark though, if you plan on using it to identify goods or services.

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright for Alabama on
Q: Should I put my name on each page of my lyrics before I copywrite
Vincent Thomas Lyon
Vincent Thomas Lyon
answered on Apr 22, 2011

It's copyRight, not copyWrite. It is the right to control or restrict the copying of your work.

And you don't need to put your name on every page. I can't think of why you'd want to, unless the pages are loose and likely to fall apart.

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright for Michigan on
Q: I needing legal advice Copyrights Cases filed in District of Columbia?
Vincent Thomas Lyon
Vincent Thomas Lyon
answered on Apr 22, 2011

Feel free to contact me with specifics.

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright for New Jersey on
Q: Are video records of township council meetings copyrighted?

A video record of a council meeting the the township posses. Is this copyrighted or considered public domain (it is of an open public meeting and recorded by the government-run, local TV station).

Vincent Thomas Lyon
Vincent Thomas Lyon
answered on Apr 22, 2011

Probably.

Check your local laws to see if they prohibit the state or the local government from holding copyrights. The Federal Government cannot get a copyright in its work, but this does not apply to state or local governments and the Federal Government can own copyrights that are assigned to it.

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright for Oklahoma on
Q: Can i get sued for downloading a torrent file?

Can i get sued for downloading a movie from a torrent

Vincent Thomas Lyon
Vincent Thomas Lyon
answered on Apr 22, 2011

Short answer is yes.

In the past, MPAA has gone after people who host torrents because they are easier to find and sue, but there's nothing in the law preventing them from suing the downloaders as well.

2 Answers | Asked in Copyright for Indiana on
Q: I have a great plot for a James Bond novel / movie. Am I safe to write it without getting sued?
Vincent Thomas Lyon
Vincent Thomas Lyon
answered on Apr 22, 2011

Rights in a character are more complicated because they can be based on different portrayals, and they include trademark rights.

If you were doing a radio play of a new James Bond story and you did it impersonating Sean Connery you'd have lots of other rights to clear first.

As...
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2 Answers | Asked in Copyright for Indiana on
Q: I want to use pictures on my website, but don't want to pay for them. The bloggers don't seem to pay - why should I?
Vincent Thomas Lyon
Vincent Thomas Lyon
answered on Apr 22, 2011

If you don't want to pay, then you can either use photos you own the copyright to, use photos that are in the public domain, or ask nice and maybe they'll give you permission. (people always seem to forget that last option)

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3 Answers | Asked in Copyright for Indiana on
Q: What is a copyright?
Vincent Thomas Lyon
Vincent Thomas Lyon
answered on Apr 22, 2011

LMGTFY

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright

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4 Answers | Asked in Copyright for Indiana on
Q: Do you have to register a copyright to take advantage of copyright law?
Vincent Thomas Lyon
Vincent Thomas Lyon
answered on Apr 22, 2011

As Mr. Overhauser said, you don't have to register to "take advantage of copyright law."

But if someone infringes your work, you DO have to have it registered before you can sue them for infringement.

Registration is a necessary pre-requisite to filing a law suit but as...
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3 Answers | Asked in Copyright for Indiana on
Q: Can I get a star named after me and claim copyright to it?
Vincent Thomas Lyon
Vincent Thomas Lyon
answered on Apr 22, 2011

Star registries are a money making plot. You don't actually get anything as nobody has the "right" to name a star and there's no official star naming body.

I could name Jupiter "Walter" but doing so would be meaningless as there is no statutory system or basis...
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