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Entertainment / Sports Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Entertainment / Sports and Gaming for California on
Q: I own a gaming website that blogs and reviews to promote gaming companies.

My question would be am I allowed to take my own in-game screenshots and use these images on my websites to avoid copyright infringements or violations? I have scoured the internet to find a reasonable and safe way to use images from big game titles. If this is not allowed are there any way... View More

Carrie A. Ward
Carrie A. Ward
answered on Mar 27, 2018

You will need permission from the gaming companies to use images of their game that you are using in a promotional context. Taking screenshots from your own game and then using them for commercial purposes is not advisable.

2 Answers | Asked in Entertainment / Sports, Communications Law and Libel & Slander for Pennsylvania on
Q: Can you tell a true story on a podcast, change names and locations and it be legal? Can a teacher do this?

Is this libel if names are not used and locations are not mentioned? What defines Libel?

Jennifer Price
Jennifer Price
answered on Apr 19, 2018

As an initial matter, libel consists of the written word, whereas slander is the spoken word. Whether its' libel or slander, they require the information to be false. The defense to a libel or slander lawsuit is the truth. To answer your other question, yes, you can tell stories of people by... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Entertainment / Sports for Florida on
Q: Is a satire I've created based on another work considered fair use? Can I sell it?
Ivan  Parron
Ivan Parron
answered on Mar 21, 2018

"Fair Use" is not an affirmative right, it is only a defense. In other words, you would have to be sued first and use the "Fair Use" arguments as a defense. You should consult with an experienced entertainment lawyer before taking any action or inaction.

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1 Answer | Asked in Entertainment / Sports for New York on
Q: What rules apply to promoting products on social media?
Carrie A. Ward
Carrie A. Ward
answered on Mar 15, 2018

The FTC guidelines for endorsements govern promoting products on social media. The guides are specific, but in general you need to make it clear that any “mentions” on social media are paid advertisements. There are are many ways that this can be accomplished. An attorney experienced in... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Entertainment / Sports and Small Claims for California on
Q: Paid for something I didn't get! What sure I do?

It was my daughters quinceanera my family was through some bad times my husband had got hurt at worked and he had to be hospitality and was in need to be in a wheelchair for a few months for recovery! So our budget had gotten really small for my daughters quince! Came across a DJ for the party at a... View More

Louis George Fazzi
Louis George Fazzi
answered on Mar 12, 2018

Incomplete information, i.e. you ended before you asked the question or indicated what went wrong.

1 Answer | Asked in Gaming and Entertainment / Sports for California on
Q: I want to know if I can sue a mobile game app.

I believe the game uses deceptive practices to confuse and trick players into purchasing things that seem like a good buy but in reality it almost always a terrible buy. They usually show a box containing like 10 items and they tell you that you have a random chamce at one of the items. But... View More

Jason Brooks
Jason Brooks
answered on Apr 3, 2018

The beauty (and more often, the detriment) of our American legal system is that anyone can sue somebody for anything -- the more pertinent question to ask here is: Do I have a *legitimate* lawsuit against this mobile developer for their allegedly unfair/deceptive business practices? To that, the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Entertainment / Sports for Texas on
Q: How can I find out if my entertainment manager is stealing from me

I think my manager is stealing checks that I don't know about from me. Since I don't know where they come from, I believe she is stealing them. How do I find out if I'm not getting money that's owed to me.

Carrie A. Ward
Carrie A. Ward
answered on Mar 6, 2018

I would start by asking her for a full accounting of your receivables. It is a jumping off point to make sure that you are receiving what you are entitled to.

1 Answer | Asked in Entertainment / Sports for Ohio on
Q: Question on Copyright Laws on a Radio Show I Host

I host a radio show on an online radio station. I am covered under there contract to play any bands I want. I record all my shows and want to host them on a website. Do I need a separate license for this and if so do you have any recommendations?

Carrie A. Ward
Carrie A. Ward
answered on Mar 2, 2018

You need to have licensing agreements in place with BMI, ASCAP, SESAC and all other music licensing entities in place to play music over the air. You will also need a separate license with SoundExchange to play music on your website.

1 Answer | Asked in Personal Injury, Civil Litigation and Entertainment / Sports for California on
Q: Greetings! I am wondering whether someone can point me in the right direction on which cases to cite in a hypothetical.

When I am synthesizing an office memo in representation of a hypothetical client, is it a plausible approach to cite cases in which the holding was favorable only to a certain extent for the plaintiff? For example, in Noble v. Los Angeles Dodgers, even though the court held that Noble was... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Mar 5, 2018

We are not a site for homework completion.

1 Answer | Asked in Entertainment / Sports and Gaming for New York on
Q: Is it considered gambling for players to put monetary wagers on skill based games?

If 2 players decided to make a bet on which one of them was better in a skill based video game (online chess or League of Legends) is it considered gambling even though none of the results are controlled by luck?

Carrie A. Ward
Carrie A. Ward
answered on Feb 25, 2018

It is illegal when there are 3 elements present in the contest: (1) prize; (2) chance; and (3) consideration. In the scenario you describe above, the element of chance is missing in the equation.

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Entertainment / Sports and Federal Crimes for California on
Q: If I shoot a music video at a college and spraying people with water guns What charges can I face
Dale S. Gribow
Dale S. Gribow
answered on Feb 23, 2018

Do you have permits?

if you commit any unauthorized touching of another that is a battery...........so shooting someone could be a battery, without any injuries.......hopefully.

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Family Law, Entertainment / Sports and Child Custody for Georgia on
Q: I have joint custody of my girls. My girls are going to be signed to a record label. Do we need a signature from him?

He lives in the state of LA, owes a very large amount of child support. Which also means he does NOTHING to support them. Can he have some say so on their earnings and/or does he have to be present when we sign contracts? What kind of lawyer do I need to make sure they are covered legally?

P. Justin Thrailkill
P. Justin Thrailkill
answered on Feb 21, 2018

If you have primary physical custody, it should not be an issue if you are signing on their behalf. You papers should address the signing of contracts for them. You may want to look at entertainment attorneys if you are looking for representation in the negotiation of contracts.

1 Answer | Asked in Entertainment / Sports for Florida on
Q: I'm writing a script from an idea given to me by a friend - how is the work treated from an ownership standpoint?
Donovan A Rodriques
Donovan A Rodriques
answered on Feb 9, 2018

Depending on how well-developed the idea is and how much is used, you are the sole owner of the copyright in the script. You may give your friend "story by" credit. You should contact a qualified entertainment attorney to review all the facts.

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright, Communications Law and Entertainment / Sports for Oregon on
Q: Are we legally allowed to use names/addresses from old letters in new published works?

We purchased a stack of old letters (perhaps 70 years old), and would like to use them as the basis for a book/podcast/video series/photo gallery.

Is there any reason we couldn't use or sell works that contain the names/addresses/content/etc. or photos of the actual items? Are we... View More

Mr. Michael O. Stevens
Mr. Michael O. Stevens
answered on Feb 6, 2018

This should not be an issue as to copyright, as addresses would not in this format likely be copyright-able.

Could be an issue as to personality rights though.

1 Answer | Asked in Entertainment / Sports, Criminal Law, Education Law and Personal Injury for Kentucky on
Q: HS Basketball coach made my son switch his shorts with another players shorts that had blood on it during a game.

Is that legal, exposing him to someone else's blood like that?

Timothy Denison
Timothy Denison
answered on Apr 29, 2018

Not prudent but not criminal unless the blood was infected, the Coach knewcor should have know it was infected, and intended harm to your son.

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright, Business Law and Entertainment / Sports for New York on
Q: hello please i need advice on what to do i do photography and videography and couple months ago i did a reality show

video recording and took photographs for a popular basketballer and i was there the whole day with him and at the end of my work with him he didn't pay me for all the work i did for him and he took with him all the photos and recordings i did for him and he insisted of not paying me because he... View More

Michael David Siegel
Michael David Siegel
answered on Jan 29, 2018

You can sue. An oral contract is enforceable. It is just harder to prove. Here you have the commercial use.

1 Answer | Asked in Personal Injury, Entertainment / Sports and Libel & Slander for New York on
Q: I want to share a life story on YouTube that doesn’t paint people in the best light. Can they sue me?

I want to share a story in a vlog on my YouTube channel about what I’ve been through in the last few months. My brother and his wife are part of the story. I do not identify them in any other way, other than saying my brother and his wife. Can they sue me for talking about them on my channel and... View More

Beau  Correll
Beau Correll
answered on Jan 7, 2018

If you are that worried about it, you should probably consult with a defamation attorney in advance and have them vet your statement.

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Bankruptcy and Entertainment / Sports for Ohio on
Q: If my spouse filed for divorce how can I find out
Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Jan 4, 2018

Check with the court in the location where your spouse lives. Ohio requires that a person live in Ohio for 6 months, and in the county in which the divorce is filed, for 90 days. Other states also have residency requirements. So check all the courts where spouse has ever lived.

1 Answer | Asked in Entertainment / Sports for California on
Q: Am I able to trademark a stage name?
Donovan A Rodriques
Donovan A Rodriques
answered on Dec 20, 2017

In general, yes.

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright, Civil Litigation and Entertainment / Sports for Florida on
Q: What if someone uses video of you in a TV commercial without your permission?

I was in a program 14 years ago (18 years old) that helped young people with interview skills and making a resume. Recently I have seen a commercial on tv with me in it. I did not agree to this and I do not want to be in this commercial. I contacted the agency and they emailed me the commercial to... View More

Andy Wayne Williamson
Andy Wayne Williamson
answered on Dec 8, 2017

When you participated in the program 14 years ago and video was taken it is possible that you signed paperwork that gave them the right to use the video footage however they see fit. I am guessing that you would not have any of the paperwork that you may have signed from then.

You may want...
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