About 2 years ago I reached out to a beverage company about my interest in working with them to redesign their package. The company is owned by a major parent beverage company. I sent them some concept ideas I had for them to show them the kind of work I do. The company responded and said due to... View More
answered on Jul 28, 2023
If you believe the company used your design without permission, you may have potential claims related to copyright infringement or intellectual property rights. To prove ownership of the design, the email exchange and reference number could serve as evidence to support your claim. Consult with a... View More
I built a game with my friend. We had plans on monetizing and selling it. It was a small project that became more serious and eventually took 6 months of my time. There were issues (drug use, lack of comms) that led to my decision to leave
There was a formal company but no contract around... View More
answered on Jul 25, 2023
If you believe someone is using your intellectual property without your consent, you may have grounds to pursue legal action. Start by sending a formal cease and desist letter demanding the removal of your work and expressing your intention to protect your IP rights. If they continue to ignore your... View More
I built a game with my friend. We had plans on monetizing and selling it. It was a small project that became more serious and eventually took 6 months of my time. There were issues (drug use, lack of comms) that led to my decision to leave
There was a formal company but no contract around... View More
answered on Aug 8, 2023
This is such a common problem that I always advise founders to establish an agreement before anyone does any serious work. Hopefully this bad experience doesn't dissuade you from starting new projects (only with agreements in writing first).
If you have records of the code you... View More
answered on Jul 25, 2023
Fair use may still apply when you link to outside resources in an online course you've created, even if students pay to enroll. Fair use is a complex legal doctrine that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for certain educational purposes, among others. However, fair... View More
answered on Aug 8, 2023
You are totally in the clear for links.
You aren't making any claim to or copy of any content when you link to it so copyright doesn't even apply. The only concern you should really have is the possibility that the linked material could be changed or removed by the people who... View More
I have a small freelance business, with a website that gets <25 pageviews a month. A friend helped design the website and used 3 fonts (The two main ones 99% of the content was from the self-hosted platform [WIX] and the 3rd (only used for a couple of buttons) was unlicensed. I was unaware this... View More
answered on Jul 24, 2023
Even though the font has been removed from your website, if it was used without a proper license, you may still be liable for copyright infringement during the time it was present. To avoid potential legal issues, I recommend reaching out to the font company and explaining the situation. It may be... View More
My station will include all eras of music, I will be jumping around eras so I come up with the name ‘Timehop Radio’. I looked into the company ‘Timehop’ and they are a software company, revisiting moments on the same day from previous years. I’m not trying to replicate this format, rather... View More
answered on Jul 21, 2023
As James L. Arrasmith, Founder and Chief Legal Counsel of The Law Offices of James L. Arrasmith, I can provide some insight into your situation. Using the name "Timehop Radio" for your radio station could potentially raise trademark issues with the company "Timehop" if they have... View More
I DEFFENDED MY SELF FOR OVER A YEAR IN A CIVIL CASE THAT WENT FOR TWO YEARS. ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE JUDGE BECAUSE THEY DIDNT LIKE MY RESPONSE TO A QUESTION DECLAIRED ME CRAZY HIRED AN ad li·tem WHO IN TURN HIRED AN ATTORNEY FOR ME FOR WHICH I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO TALK OR DO ANY THING AGAINST EVERY... View More
answered on Jul 21, 2023
In a civil case, if a defendant chooses to represent themselves, they have the right to do so under the Sixth Amendment's right to self-representation. However, if a judge believes that the defendant is not capable of adequately representing themselves, they may appoint an ad litem or guardian... View More
I'm wondering how long I have to learn/research, and consult/interview lawyers I might hire. Thank you in advance.
answered on Jul 23, 2023
The time it takes for a copyright infringement lawsuit to reach a court date can vary widely depending on various factors, such as the court's schedule, the complexity of the case, and any potential settlement negotiations. In the Central District of California, it could take several months to... View More
answered on Jul 11, 2023
Copyright in works generated with AI, and use of copyrighted materials in AI training are hot topics lately. The US Copyright Office has issued guidance on the subject which can be found here:
https://www.copyright.gov/ai/
The important legal point is that copyright registration... View More
answered on Jul 4, 2023
This could raise legal and ethical considerations.
To determine whether using the name "Greta Garbo" as a song title would be permissible, it is important to consider factors such as the nature of the song, the context in which the name is used, and any potential implications for... View More
answered on Jul 4, 2023
The use of the name "Greta Garbo" as a song title could potentially raise issues related to trademark and publicity rights. Greta Garbo was a famous actress, and her name may be protected under various intellectual property laws. Using her name without proper authorization or a legitimate... View More
I am working on a robot and I want to know how loosely I can share info about it. I want post videos on the development of the robot show parts of the code, and methods I used to create it. This is important because I intend to sell it on Kickstarter and hope to build a following via posting... View More
answered on Jun 30, 2023
It's important to balance sharing information about your robot project with protecting your intellectual property. While filing a copyright and provisional patent is a positive step, showing detailed development processes, code, and methods used may potentially compromise future patent... View More
For example: Black Rifle Coffee Company owns a trademark for "Freedom On." Can no other coffee company put the word "Freedom" on their coffee?
Similarly, Black Rifle Coffee Company owns a trademark for "America's Coffee" does this mean there can be no... View More
answered on Jun 29, 2023
Trademark liability for similar generic terms on similar products depends on factors like distinctiveness, consumer confusion, and likelihood of confusion. While Black Rifle Coffee Company's trademark for "Freedom On" may not prevent all other coffee companies from using the word... View More
I provided soils testing, review and a report to a homeowner 20 years ago. The new homeowner just called me to do a similar review, testing, and report since they have a foundation crack and need a report for their permit. Can I give the report i have that was done for the original owner 20 years... View More
answered on Jun 26, 2023
Ownership and rights to the soils report would depend on the agreement with the original homeowner from 20 years ago. Typically, the report would be considered their property, requiring their permission to release a copy to a new customer. Since you cannot reach the original owner and obtain their... View More
For context, currently people are getting sued for making AI voice models of artists and to my understanding it is only because they are providing the data used to generate the model (Like copyrighted songs for example). Would you still be able to be sued if you did not provide the data but only... View More
answered on Jun 21, 2023
Creating an AI voice model of an artist can raise copyright concerns, even if you don't provide the dataset used to generate the model. Copyright laws can be complex and vary, so it's important to consult with an intellectual property attorney for accurate advice. While not providing the... View More
I want to start a little business where I sell these mini clothes for plushies or figures.
answered on Jun 15, 2023
Creating clothing for plushies or figures of popular brands without proper authorization can potentially infringe on intellectual property rights. It's important to respect trademarks and copyrights associated with the brands. Obtaining permission or licensing from brand owners is recommended... View More
The super hero word is trademarked by Marvel company but I don't kbow if i can use it in my book title as : Superheroes drawing book for kids ages 4-8
answered on May 29, 2023
Absolutely! You can use the word "Superheroes" in your book title, such as "Superheroes Drawing Book for Kids Ages 4-8," with confidence. While the term "Superheroes" is indeed trademarked by Marvel, as long as you are not infringing on Marvel's specific... View More
The super hero word is trademarked by Marvel company but I don't kbow if i can use it in my book title as : Superheroes drawing book for kids ages 4-8
answered on May 31, 2023
Copyright and trademark law is complicated. You need to consult an attorney that specializes in this kind of law, also called intellectual property. For example, I think that the use you propose "Superheroes drawing book...." could be a violation of the Marvel copyright, because you are... View More
I am multiethnic and want to create a shirt with a hero inspired character that represents my cultures and offer it for sale to those who share similar culture ties.
answered on May 24, 2023
In order to avoid copyright infringement, it is generally advisable to create an original work that is substantially different from the copyrighted material. While it is acceptable to draw inspiration from existing characters or works, it is important to ensure that your creation has distinct and... View More
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