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Florida Intellectual Property Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Copyright and Intellectual Property for Florida on
Q: Copyright Infringement

A well known British singer living in Santa Monica. They are using my US copyrighted Office photographic images I took of them before they became famous in 1989 in music video's plus at least in 2 books and across all platforms. The image is also embedded in their music video which is all over... View More

Michael  Mayoral
Michael Mayoral
answered on Oct 5, 2021

You might have a claim for copyright infringement. I've handled a similar case in federal court involving the unauthorized use of photographs of models. You need an attorney to research the cause of action and make a formal demand, at the very least. I am very interested in the case. Feel free... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law and Intellectual Property for Florida on
Q: I own an LLC and my partner's breached their fiduciary duties and are demanding assets that will result in layoffs...

I own an LLC (65% share), and my two business partners (35% share - they invested prior to joining as manager-members if that matters) decided to start a competing company while still a manager-member of my company while before it was dissolved. This new company they formed is 100% direct... View More

Jane Kim
Jane Kim pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Sep 25, 2021

I’m not sure it is possible to answer this question intelligently due to insufficient facts. How are they member-managers if there’s no operating agreement? And you’re right, fiduciary duty would attach to member-managers. You need to retain a business lawyer to get into the facts in order... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Intellectual Property, Legal Malpractice and Trademark for Florida on
Q: Is it legal to record a movie for personal use from a DVD one owns?

Hello,

I am wondering if it is legal to record (copy a movie to save as .mp4) a movie with VLC that has been legally purchased (first sale) for personal (non-distributed) use. I would not like to retain the original DVD's (as I travel a lot and enjoy the convenience of a digital... View More

Marcos Garciaacosta
Marcos Garciaacosta
answered on Jul 23, 2021

Depends.

You should consult with an attorney to address your concerns.

4 Answers | Asked in Copyright, Business Law, Intellectual Property and Trademark for Florida on
Q: Do I need a licensing/trademark specialized lawyer?

I'd like to open a DC comics-themed restaurant, do I need to buy a license from them, even though most of the characters are not listed for Hotels and Restaurants?

Adam Ira Skolnik
Adam Ira Skolnik
answered on Jul 17, 2021

Yes, as well as corporate and possibly tax. The characters, likeness and their use are currently owned by DC Entertainment which is a subsidiary of Warner Brothers etc..

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Q: If there was a youtuber whom read poetry from other poets and got paid for it, could he/she be sued?

They aren't passing off the content (poems) as their own. They are just reading it in a ASMR fashion to make money.

Linda Liang
Linda Liang
answered on May 4, 2021

What is copyright infringement? As a general matter, copyright infringement occurs when a copyrighted work is reproduced, distributed, performed, publicly displayed, or made into a derivative work without the permission of the copyright owner. Since you use the poem in a way that you are making... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Intellectual Property and Landlord - Tenant for Florida on
Q: My tenant has a claim against me for tripping and falling. Can I still sell my property with an ongoing claim?

Tenant is alleging to have slip and fell on my property. He got a injury law firm to file a claim against my insurance company. Can I still sell the property with an ongoing claim?

Linda Liang
Linda Liang
answered on May 3, 2021

A claim is just that. A claim. The claim is against yourself, not the property. You should be able to sell it still.

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1 Answer | Asked in Intellectual Property and Patents (Intellectual Property) for Florida on
Q: If I know the patent number, how do I find out who licensed a patent, for how much, and when?
Peter D. Mlynek
Peter D. Mlynek
answered on Apr 25, 2021

Sorry, but you can't. Licensing terms, such as financials, are typically highly confidential.

The best that you can do is to find out whether the patent has been assigned to someone. Such assignments are typically recorded at the Patent Office.

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts, Real Estate Law, Intellectual Property and White Collar Crime for Florida on
Q: Can someone please help me? I am being framed.

Both my brand new Inspiron and my really old hand-me-down HP have been exchanged at the CPU part, the base. I know there is an FBI investigation, now they can't find anything so they're setting me up to fail because I found accidentally SEC stuff relative to assets (A Huge Number of... View More

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Feb 15, 2021

IMO, you should have learned better before this happened. So learn it now: Seeking attention in the manner you have recently done sets off many alarms in many places you have never heard of.

The next thing you need to learn is that competent successful Florida lawyers will probably not...
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Q: Can I file for a patent to improve a product on the market?
Kevin E. Flynn
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Kevin E. Flynn
answered on Feb 6, 2021

Yes you can. However, depending on whether your improved product falls within the original patent you may need a license to the original patent to sell a product. If your improvement is a kit to upgrade the original product then you may be ok. Lots of details and nuances. Best bet is to talk... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Intellectual Property for Florida on
Q: Do I need an additional consulting/IP agreement for work done by engineers on Upwork?

Hi,

I'm starting a tech startup and using freelancers on Upwork. In the event of an acquisition or sale, I know acquiring companies sometimes want to see agreements for contractors. I'm wondering if Upwork's terms are sufficient or if I need a supplemental... View More

Andrea Wheeler
Andrea Wheeler
answered on Jan 23, 2021

I would want my own agreement with a contractor. You want to be sure you own the IP and that the contractor is not using someone else’s work. There are many considerations that need to be looked at with this type of arrangement. Just a brief look at that link, it looks like optional provisions... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Intellectual Property and Probate for Florida on
Q: Need help with wrong will and probate not started for a gift deed and gift property how do I go about legalizing 2probat

2 time property has been up for probate having character issues with the children and they will not produce a will for my house or property and I’m in the will and my taxes are paid theirs is not I own half of their property and paid but they blocking me thru conflict

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
answered on Jan 3, 2021

What you are trying to ask is very unclear, but if the property was transferred by deed (from the decedent who owned the property) before the decedent died, a will would probably not have any effect upon title to the property.

2 Answers | Asked in Trademark, Real Estate Law, Business Formation and Intellectual Property for Florida on
Q: I want to make an underwear line with a specific name, but the name I want to use is already trademarked. Can I use it?

It's trademarked for Real Estate agencies and Real Estate Brokerage. This is a different industry than I would be in so does it really matter?

Marcos Garciaacosta
Marcos Garciaacosta
answered on Dec 31, 2020

You should consult with an attorney to understand your risks

In general trademarks can coexists if they are in different categories that there is no chance people can get confused as of the origin of the product or service

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4 Answers | Asked in Employment Law and Intellectual Property for Florida on
Q: Will the employer own my unfinished product?

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

Marcos Garciaacosta
Marcos Garciaacosta
answered on Dec 14, 2020

Typically if you get paid to do work for somebody else they own the product and all intellectual property attached to it.

If you started the project under them and you were getting paid, most likely they are the owners.

Talk to them and consult with an attorney to understand your...
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1 Answer | Asked in Copyright and Intellectual Property for Florida on
Q: Are FDA medication guides and manufacturer pamphlets copyrighted?

Rx and OTC drugs come with monographs, medication guides and manufacturer pamphlets and I would like to know if one can reference their data without worrying about copyright laws. For example, ican someone make a database that customers pay a fee to join that summarizes the critical data from... View More

Allison Higgins
Allison Higgins
answered on Nov 19, 2020

Yes, the guides and pamphlets are protected by copyright laws. However, you may still be able to create the database you are talking about without running into copyright issues. It would depend on how much of the information you used, whether you cite your sources correctly, and whether you use any... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Intellectual Property, Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Law for Florida on
Q: I need a property attorney to help me take ownership of my dads land and stop the violations?

My father passed away this year. He owns a home. My name is not on the deed and I still live there. Recently I received many violations by the state of Jacksonville Florida. I feel harassed.

Phillip William Gunthert
Phillip William Gunthert
answered on Nov 5, 2020

I am sorry for your loss and the passing of your father, please accept my condolences and sympathy for your loss and this difficult time, You will need to speak with a Florida Probate Attorney, you will also want to get a copy of the deed to have it reviewed. It is likely that some version of... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Intellectual Property, Patents (Intellectual Property) and Trademark for Florida on
Q: I have a disclaimer. Can I stop some else from using the words on their website, logo/trademark outside the USA?

My trademark has all generic words I have a disclaimer for all the generic words on my trademark. however I have noticed a website using my trademark words on their website and company name as well as their domain have a couple words from my trademark. Can I stop them from using those generic words... View More

Tania Maria Williams
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Tania Maria Williams pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Oct 26, 2020

It depends on how the words are being used. Usually the disclaimer means that you do not have rights to that word outside of its use as part of your mark. Therefore, their use of the words depends on the similarity in the marks as a whole. With regard to stopping them, you may be able to send a... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Intellectual Property and Trademark for Florida on
Q: Trademark certificate has Disclaimer what does it mean?

Trademark certificate states:

NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE THE FOLLOWING APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN: “beautifying skin solutions”

What does this mean?

Evelyn Suero
Evelyn Suero
answered on Oct 26, 2020

A trademark disclaimer indicates that a registrant does not claim an exclusive right to specific elements of the mark. For instance, while the mark is registrable as a whole, it may contain descriptive elements that would not be registrable by itself; and the registrant cannot prevent other... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Intellectual Property, International Law and Trademark for Florida on
Q: Is an international registered trademark in the USA enough to stop a trademark infringement outside the USA?

The trademark is filled in the USA as an international trademark. I want to know if that is enough to stop someone using words from my trademark on their website outside the USA.

My trademark is made up with 3 words and a symbol, I have a disclaimer for the 3 words. However I have noticed... View More

David Luther Woodward
David Luther Woodward
answered on Oct 26, 2020

You need to visit with a lawyer who specializes in intellectual property. I don't know where you are in the state, but if you call The Florida Bar in Tallahassee they can point you in the correct direction.

Good Luck

d

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2 Answers | Asked in Copyright, Intellectual Property and Trademark for Florida on
Q: How can I buy a trademark that is listed as unused since 2008?

I was researching for a brand name and this one appeared as unused in the Justia Trademarks display page. Just the steps to acquire the brand name before using it Online.

Evelyn Suero
Evelyn Suero
answered on Jul 28, 2020

While some people do purchase rights to use a trademark from trademark owners, if the mark is not being used by anyone, then the right to exclusively use a trademark is acquired through use for goods and services. Before filing for registration of a trademark, it is important to determine whether... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Copyright, Intellectual Property and Trademark for Florida on
Q: Copyright/ Trademark I am crafter who creates customs designs and create handmade items..

The order Hello and good evening. I’m wondering how much you would charge me to have a T-shirt made? Two shirts specifically. I World like a saying and four drawing on the shirt.

To get to the point, she asked me to create and i worked tirelessly to do so, finished my design and sent her... View More

Tania Maria Williams
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Tania Maria Williams pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jul 17, 2020

She seems to be under the assumption that because she commissioned the design that it belongs to her. Unfortunately, many people make that incorrect assumption. The Copyright Act is clear that you need a writing for a work to be considered a work made for hire and only particular works fit within... View More

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