Get free answers to your Intellectual Property legal questions from lawyers in your area.
Products include stamps, christmas cards, bikes, etc. that has a design or logo on them; pretty much anything IP laws cover. I don't plan on sharing the photos if it is legal to take them. Also, how does this apply to product pictures for an Ebay listing?
answered on Jan 22, 2024
Taking photographs of products you have purchased for personal use, such as keeping them on your PC for memories, is generally not considered copyright infringement. Copyright law typically allows for the personal, non-commercial use of such images. This is because your use is private and does not... View More
I play a video game that allows for modding, meaning you can add, remove and/or augment most things, from character models to game mechanics.
I want to add 3 fairly popular movie characters to my game and also make YouTube videos and have live streams with them included.... View More
answered on Jan 21, 2024
Modding a video game and adding 3rd party intellectual property (IP) characters can potentially raise legal issues. Using popular movie characters without proper authorization may infringe on copyright and trademark rights held by the owners of those characters.
Displaying these modded... View More
Years ago I wrote a screenplay based on a self-published novel by a friend of mine, with her permission and minor collaboration. The lady has since passed away. Her heir says that the lady willed her copyrights to someone else but she does not know whom. Records still list the original author as... View More
answered on Sep 20, 2023
It is not essential that you identify the current owner of the copyright in the novel, but if you desired to do so, the best resource would be the probate records for the novelist's estate and/or a copy of the will. Your screenplay is an original work of your own authorship, with the... View More
For copyright questions
answered on Sep 11, 2023
If your former employer is using your images without your explicit consent and it was not stipulated in your employment contract that they could use your images for marketing purposes, you may have grounds to object to this use. Your right to object might be based on your copyright in the images... View More
The Judge, wants to move to consolidate the 2 cases/both Trademark infringements...never heard of such, especially since I am about to file 3 more infringement cases...any thoughts???
answered on Apr 3, 2023
Consolidation is not uncommon. Judges often consolidate cases for the purposes of "judicial economy" or "judicial efficiency." For example, if one party has essentially the same issue with two opposing parties, consolidating the two cases can help ensure that the common issue is... View More
Im a musician and I'm writing a song about nostalgia. The Nintendo GameBoy was a huge nostalgia factor for me. The GameBoy startup sound is just one extended chord followed by an individual note. Could I possibly get sued by Nintendo if I put the chord from the startup sound into my song?
answered on Dec 29, 2022
The issue of copyright infringement is one that has been debated for decades, and while most people are aware that they can be sued for illegally downloading music, many are unaware that they can also be sued for using a short note, or sound clip, from a song. This is because even though the clip... View More
He is saying the bill of sale means nothing . I paid 1300 cash for truck 500 debt to creditors for title now he saying I owed him 2000 more and he going to go get truck
answered on Oct 18, 2020
The bill of sale does mean something. If you paid him 1800 and have a bill of sale and he refuses to give you the truck you can have him arrested for theft by deception 1st degree, in addition to suing him civilly. Good luck!
I own the registered trademark "God's Country" for use on goods and services/clothing. Is it infringement if someone uses "This is God's Country" on a thsirt.?
answered on Oct 14, 2020
Yes, possibly. But there are multiple factors that a court must weigh to determine trademark infringement.
The two main factors are the mark itself and its underlying goods/services. In your example, "God's Country" is the "dominant" or key phrase, which is... View More
In my employer’s employment agreement:
“As between Company and myself, I agree that all right, title, and interest in and to any and all copyrightable material, notes, records, drawings, designs, inventions, improvements, developments, discoveries and trade secrets conceived,... View More
answered on Jul 1, 2019
That is what they are asking for. You would need to consult with an employment attorney in your state to see if this would be enforceable under local law.
This is an overreach by the company. Normally, they limit this sort of agreement to inventions or software related to their line of... View More
I have created a lesson to accompany a novel to sell commercially to other teachers. Most book titles are not trademarked, but the novel title I created the lessons to accompany is listed as "trademarked". In the product, I refer to the title of the book multiple times and the activity... View More
answered on Jan 11, 2018
I'm not sure I understand your question. Please explain a little more. Thanks,
Mark A. Baker
answered on Sep 17, 2017
There is no such thing as an "international" trademark. Each country has its own trademark laws, but you can proceed under the Madrid Protocol to ensure that you are able to protect your trademark rights in various countries.
If you were going to pursue protection in all... View More
answered on May 20, 2014
Copyright law is governed by federal law, the Copyright Act of 1976. It is not controlled by state law, although sometimes the rights of the owner can be enforced in state court. A person who creates a work, let's say a book or a play, owns the rights to that work. Others are prohibited... View More
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.