Get free answers to your Copyright legal questions from lawyers in your area.
I am looking to open a Game of Thrones pop up bar in NYC. I would like to be able to have it be a Game of Thrones bar, versus a Game of Thrones inspired bar because of the trademarking.
answered on Jan 31, 2019
I would start with HBO's licensing & retail department. A Google search should point you in the right direction. My firm handles these kinds of deals regularly - if you would like assistance, feel free to email me at: Jason@altviewlawgroup.com
Can a photographer claim copyright infringement and sue for damages on photos posted to a hobby website in 2014 with clear credit and links given back to the photographers website and Instagram account when the copyright was not filed until 2018 for said photos?
answered on Jan 28, 2019
A copyright is established the moment the work is produced in a tangible form (i.e. once the photo is created). So if you have exploited someone else's picture without authorization, you have committed copyright infringement. By registering a work for copyright with the US Copyright Office,... View More 
answered on Jan 22, 2019
I am sorry, but you are going to have a tough time finding someone good to do pro bono work in patent law. Unless you are a church, a non-profit group, or some charitable organization, pro bono patent work is pretty much non-existent. The reason is that unlike in criminal law, patents are a... View More
The music is from two 1961 episodes of The Twilight Zone that were scored by composer Jerry Goldsmith. How would I go about getting the rights to use that music in a short film I am working on? Would this even be possible? Any idea of what it would cost? Thanks!
answered on Jan 2, 2019
To use copyrighted material, one would need to find out who owns the copyright and contact them for a license. But you'd also need to determine whether your use qualifies as "fair use". More details are necessary to provide a professional analysis of your issue. The best first step... View More
I am planning to start a YouTube channel with videos that teach English grammar. I write all my scripts myself, but I occasionally consult an English grammar textbook to make sure my videos have no false information. I also use it to look up lists of words to use in my videos, such as common... View More
answered on Sep 18, 2018
It is OK. Based on what you wrote, there should be no problem.
answered on Sep 4, 2018
If you are talking about software patches, where you are making changes to a computer program designed to update, fix bugs, or improve it, then you need to take a look at the contract that you've signed with the software provider just exactly who gets to own the IP rights.
If you are... View More
Hello! I was wondering if it would be fair use to include magazine and newspapers covers along with their logos in a "Print Advertising" section of an Ad agency's website? The covers will be placed in magazine and newspaper mockups in a digitally made-belief home setting next to... View More
answered on Aug 13, 2018
You cannot do it. The logos and designs of newspapers are copyrighted.
I am an artist. I create paintings, I do customizations, and also design merchandise and apparel related to my art. I want all of these entities of my work to operate under one brand, named after myself, as subsidiaries.
answered on Jul 1, 2018
It sounds like you are currently operating as a sole proprietor, where there is no legal separation between you and your business. Your first step might be to form a separate legal entity, such as a single member LLC, with its own tax ID number and bank account for all of your business activities... View More
Someone filed a false DMCA Copyright Takedown against one of my videos and is asking for 1000$ to remove it. How should I approach this situation. I am sure they will blackmail me more if I were to give them my personal information such as: Physical Address, Name, And Phone Number, if I try to... View More
answered on Jun 26, 2018
You could have an attorney file the counter notice for you if you are concerned about distributing your contact information.
I used a circle crop and specialized fonts.
answered on Jun 18, 2018
Yes, but only to the extent of your contribution. You cannot claim copyright over what to took from someone else. But, you have a copyright in the assembled design you created.
The quote is "A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence." -
answered on May 27, 2018
No, not without the pernission of the copyright holder. You have the name of the author, contact them or their estate if they are deceased to get permission to use the quote commercially. Understand that a work does not have to be published to be protected by copyright; being on the internet is... View More
Freepik.om is a website for free vector images and I have a premium subscription to use the image but the image can not be use as the main theme to print and sell on things like mugs. So I want to make a similar design to sell.
answered on May 27, 2018
Read this about derivative works: https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ14.pdf
Like an empathic autobiography.
answered on May 14, 2018
In theory, yes it is possible. An attorney would need to know more about the work to give an opinion on whether the particular use is transformative.
The event name is IGG (ice gold and green) paint versus powder which is copyrighted which is held annually at the same time every year and as of last year a member remove their self from the group stole the name wrote it and has the event on the same day there's evidence on social media to... View More
answered on May 9, 2018
You can try. This resource may apply depending on the structure of the group and this person's role: https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ30.pdf
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answered on May 11, 2018
Yes you can. Even if it is a satirical take on yelp, that goes to your advantage according to the caselaw. You should have no problems. If you have any questions navigating this I can offer a free phone consultation and can be reached at 914-912-1555. Best. Yes you can. Even if it is a satirical... View More
The business would be unrelated to disney or the movie and the characters. not sure how this works. thanks
answered on Apr 22, 2018
If that name is available for registration as a corporation, LLC or some other entity in your desired state, the. Yes you can register that name as a business — with that said, Disney is fairly aggressive about protecting their IP so you’d be limiting g yourself in scope and also running the... View More
I'm creating a cookbook which will be sold online and in stores. I will be buying the photos I can't find on the free stock photo sites but what loopholes can I expect? Last thing I want is to spend thousands to publish a book only to have someone claim rights to a photo.
answered on Apr 20, 2018
The risk is that the person who submitted the photo to the site never had the rights in the first place. The true owner could then sue you. Make sure you work with reputable, well established companies that own the photos.
I'm an artist/illustrator and want to create a series of maps - not actual maps someone would use for directions, but an art print they would hang on a wall showing things the city or state is famous for.
What standard would I use to decide what I am allowed to include on the map?... View More
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answered on May 11, 2018
Because it is public information you can probably use all of it, you can definitely use all of it if you are not selling the map or distributing it, and likely even if you are. I would check with each organization or rather have your attorney check, If you were going to paint them in some sort of... View More
We have several journals and letters from 1850-1920 written by family members (all deceased). We are in the process of retyping these and putting into PDF format for immediate family members. We would also like to make these available to more distant relatives and possibly parts to any local... View More
answered on Feb 15, 2018
A will does not have to specifically bequest intellectual property rights for those rights to pass to heirs. If, for example, father gives everything he owns to son, his son inherits the intellectual property rights in his letters and journals. Son could apply for copyright protection from the... View More
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
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.
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