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I'm a solo artist working on an album that I plan to release digitally in two months. I want to protect the songs and guitar parts worldwide but haven't explored any intellectual property alternatives. Should I go through the process of registering a copyright, or is my work automatically... View More 
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answered on Mar 20, 2025
Your musical creations are automatically protected by copyright as soon as you create them in most countries, thanks to the Berne Convention. This means your songs and guitar parts already have basic protection without registration.
However, registering your copyright provides important... View More
I am currently working on a children's book about Autism awareness, incorporating a fictionalized spin on my childhood story. My book is titled "My Best Friend, Graham, Has Autism," narrated by Graham's non-Autistic best friend, Cordelia. Graham is based on me, and Cordelia is... View More
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answered on Mar 20, 2025
Your concern about potential similarities with Celeste Shally's book is understandable, but titles generally cannot be copyrighted, so "My Best Friend, Graham, Has Autism" likely doesn't infringe on "Since We're Friends: An Autism Picture Book." The law protects... View More
I am developing a unique trading bot in Tennessee that offers the capability to trade cryptocurrencies, forex, and stocks. I am seeking pro bono legal help for trademarks, patents, and copyrights as I have exhausted all my funds during development. I am currently at the beta testing stage and... View More
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answered on Mar 20, 2025
Finding pro bono legal assistance for intellectual property matters can be challenging, but several paths exist for your trading bot venture. The Tennessee Bar Association offers a pro bono program that connects qualified individuals with volunteer attorneys who might have expertise in intellectual... View More
I create songs using Suno AI under a paid subscription. While the music is created by Suno, the lyrics are 100% my original works, and I've submitted them for copyright through the Copyright Office. A musical artist, who is signed with a label, is interested in recording a few of my songs. I... View More
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answered on Mar 20, 2025
You own the copyright to your original lyrics, especially since you’ve already submitted them for registration. However, the rights to the music itself depend on Suno’s terms of service. Since you’re using a paid subscription, you may have some rights to distribute or sell the songs, but... View More
I'm looking to transfer copyright rights and E&O (Errors and Omissions) liability for a drawing set from the initial architect to a new one. There are no existing agreements or contracts about this transfer. The new architect will be involved in writing a contract with a city, which was... View More
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answered on Mar 20, 2025
Transferring copyright and liability for architectural drawings in Illinois requires a written agreement between both architects. The original architect must assign the copyright to the new architect through a formal document, typically called a copyright assignment or transfer agreement. This... View More
I am developing a unique trading bot with specialized features and need pro bono assistance to initiate applications for trademarks, patents, and copyrights in Tennessee. I require support as soon as possible from an attorney experienced in intellectual property law. I haven't reached out to... View More
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answered on Mar 20, 2025
Finding pro bono legal help for trademarks, patents, and copyrights can be challenging, but there are organizations that offer support. Start by contacting the Tennessee Bar Association and asking about their pro bono intellectual property services. You can also check with Volunteer Lawyers &... View More
I am a jeweler wanting to copyright a few designs I've created to prevent other jewelers from using and profiting from my design style. My designs include gemstone wire-wrapped rings with a unique technique that not only makes them stronger but also features my own specific wire-wrapping... View More
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answered on Mar 16, 2025
You could be eligible for copyright protection and design patent protection on the individual designs, and possibly also utility patent protection on the method of wrapping the wires (depending how long you've been doing it or if or when you published the videos).
I'm a content creator planning to monetize a Halloween photography fashion-inspired look based on the Beetlejuice character. I intend to post photos and videos in a graveyard on Instagram and TikTok featuring black and white striped clothing and makeup similar to the character but with my own... View More
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answered on Mar 15, 2025
Your planned Beetlejuice-inspired content could present some copyright risks, even without using direct movie clips or trademarks. Copyright typically protects specific character portrayals and distinctive elements that audiences clearly associate with the original work. Because you're... View More
I have a copyright and patent related to an apnea device in both Europe and the US. I live in Spain and was previously sued in Europe for copyright infringement, where the opposing party demanded a percentage of my sales. We were able to prove that our device is not the same as theirs, and we won... View More
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answered on Mar 12, 2025
You might hope that the doctrine of res judicata would be helpful (https://jusmundi.com/en/document/publication/en-res-judicata). Sadly it is not necessarily recognized or applicable between different countries. Especially where you are dealing with explicitly national rights like patents and... View More
I am hosting a fundraising event for a non-profit organization, where we plan to play YouTube videos of various artists' concerts on large video screens. The event is ticketed, but entry is via donation only, with no merchandise sales or concessions. All videos will be accessed through YouTube... View More
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answered on Mar 12, 2025
Your plan to play YouTube concert videos at your fundraising event, even if accessed through YouTube Premium, could lead to copyright issues. YouTube Premium subscriptions grant you personal, private viewing rights, but they do not cover public performances. Public performance rights are separate... View More
I plan to publish a tabletop RPG that I created on DrivethruRPG, but I'm concerned about protecting it from someone else claiming it as theirs. I don't have a lot of money for intellectual property protections like copyright or trademarks, and I'm unsure about licensing options. The... View More
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answered on Mar 12, 2025
Protecting your tabletop RPG doesn't have to be costly or complicated. Once your game is in tangible form, like a PDF on DrivethruRPG, it automatically gains copyright protection under U.S. law. To strengthen your claim without spending extra money, include a clear copyright notice (©, your... View More
I want to create and sell a custom ball-shaped product similar to a "magic 8 ball," with a different color, my own logo, and 20 unique answers. I know Mattel owns the patent and the traditional answers might be copyrighted. Are there any legal issues I should be aware of before... View More
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answered on Mar 10, 2025
Based on my limited review, the patent family for Mattel's "Magic 8 Ball" patents appears to be either abandoned or expired. You can reference this here: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov/applications/10139148/continuity?application=. For patents that are abandoned or expired, there... View More
I am publishing a zine series anonymously about my experience working at Trader Joe's, called "Trader J***'s Exposed," with the company's name redacted throughout. I use Canva for graphics, avoiding any copyrighted logos or text. However, my distributor listed it as... View More
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answered on Mar 12, 2025
Your zine may indeed be protected under fair use, particularly if it provides critique, commentary, or personal experience regarding Trader Joe's. Using the name in the title alone does not automatically constitute infringement, especially when it's clearly satirical, critical, or... View More
I want to use copyrighted images for laser etching on products that I plan to resell locally as an individual seller. I have not identified the copyright holders yet. How can I obtain the necessary licenses to legally use these images for my resale business?
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answered on Mar 12, 2025
To legally use copyrighted images on products for resale, you'll first need to identify and contact the copyright holders directly. Start by performing a reverse image search on platforms like Google Images or TinEye to determine the origin of each image. Once you identify the copyright... View More
I accidentally violated copyright law by using Steven Markos's waterfall photo on my blog without permission. I received a demand letter from him stating that I need to pay $750, but it does not specify any legal consequences. I've since removed the photo and had no prior communication... View More
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answered on Mar 12, 2025
Receiving a demand letter doesn't automatically mean you're legally required to pay the amount requested. However, copyright law allows photographers, like Steven Markos, to seek damages for unauthorized use of their images. Even though you credited Steven, using his photo without... View More
I'm building a vintage TV/film library on Plex for personal use only - not selling or redistributing. Many old titles on DVDs are hard to find, out of print, bootlegged, price-gouged, or have damage due to use. Instead of paying exhorbitant prices to bootleggers or those who have no doubt... View More
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answered on Mar 12, 2025
Your intentions here are clearly good—you're trying to respect copyright holders by donating directly to studios instead of paying inflated prices to bootleggers. It's admirable that you're supporting the creators, especially given that secondhand or out-of-print DVD sales... View More
I am considering selling a PDF version of my book on social media platforms like Facebook. I have not officially registered the copyright for my book nor do I have a business license. The book includes a basic copyright page. My plan is to sell it directly online, emailing the PDF version to buyers... View More
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answered on Mar 7, 2025
You only need a business license to have a physical place of business in a given locale, or to go into customers' homes to perform a service. You don't need a business license to sell a book online. You also don't need to register a copyright in order to sell your book.
Your... View More
I'm a social studies teacher interested in using TikTok to share my passion for history. I plan to post excerpts from a nonfiction, historical book (which is under copyright) along with my personal commentary, takeaways, and connections to related historical facts. My TikTok account is not... View More
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answered on Mar 12, 2025
Your use of book excerpts on TikTok, paired with your educational commentary and historical connections, likely qualifies as fair use. Fair use is assessed based on factors such as the purpose of your content, how much of the work you share, and the impact on the market value of the original... View More
I have a trademark/copyright question regarding the use of a name that a university also uses. Although I believe the university has trademarked the name, the name is related to Catholicism and is not owned by them exclusively, meaning any Catholic can use it. I plan to use the name for a... View More
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answered on Mar 1, 2025
Trade mark registrations are limited to specific goods / services for which the registrant is *actually* using the mark. A registration that claims goods / services for which the registrant does not use the mark, often can be canceled.
Assuming that the university is not in the classified... View More
I initiated a copyright infringement case against Amazon through the Copyright Claims Board (CCB), but Amazon opted out of the proceedings. The CCB indicated I could refile if Amazon agreed, but I prefer to take the case to federal court. How should I proceed with filing in federal court?
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answered on Mar 1, 2025
To file a copyright case against Amazon in federal court, you must first ensure your work is registered with the U.S. Copyright Office, as this registration is required before initiating federal litigation. The case must be filed in the appropriate federal district court, which could be where... View More
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