Get free answers to your Copyright legal questions from lawyers in your area.
I am concerned about copyright infringement when drawing from a reference. I am an artist beginning a small business. I almost always use some form of reference when I draw. I pull from different sources to compile an original picture (ex: finding several pictures of the same flower from different... View More 
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answered on Jun 5, 2024
To ensure you stay within acceptable reference usage for your art business, focus on creating substantial transformations in your work. When using reference photos, particularly for poses, make sure that your final piece has clear, original elements and doesn’t replicate the source too closely.... View More
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answered on Mar 22, 2024
Coloring someone else's mandala design, framing it, and selling it can involve legal and ethical issues. It largely depends on the copyright status of the original mandala design. If the design is under copyright, using it without permission for commercial purposes could infringe on the rights... View More
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answered on Mar 22, 2024
It depends on what license they gave you for the design. Did they give you a license for personal use only or for commercial uses as well? If they did not give you any license at all, it definitely is not a good Idea to sell their work as your own.
I am looking to operate an online business where I sell online courses and PowerPoint templates as materials with the course. I have seen that a Microsoft Office Home and Student license is not allowed for commercial purposes.
Questions List:
1. Is the Microsoft Professional license... View More
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answered on Feb 21, 2024
1. The Microsoft Office Professional license may indeed be suitable for distributing materials such as online courses and PowerPoint templates for commercial purposes. However, it's essential to carefully review the terms and conditions of the license to ensure that it allows for the specific... View More
I am looking to possibly start selling stickers and t-shirts online via Etsy. The images I am hoping to use would be created using AI websites. Is this something I am legally allowed to do?
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answered on Feb 21, 2024
Using images created using AI websites for your small business ideas, such as selling t-shirts or stickers online, raises questions about copyright and intellectual property rights. While AI-generated images may not have a human creator in the traditional sense, they can still be subject to... View More
I am looking to possibly start selling stickers and t-shirts online via Etsy. The images I am hoping to use would be created using AI websites. Is this something I am legally allowed to do?
answered on Jan 29, 2024
This is a great question, and is quite naturally very complex given the ever-changing landscape of technology. Right now, general intellectual property laws that govern internet images are essentially limited to uniquely created imagery and content that is produced by human individuals.... View More
The Canva terms of service are a bit confusing. My understanding is that if I have the free Canva plan and use only free Canva elements, I can essentially use the pictures/designs for anything I want besides selling them directly (in the context of trying to compete with Canva). I am starting an... View More
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answered on Dec 26, 2023
Your understanding of Canva's terms of service is largely on track, but there are nuances to consider. With a free Canva plan, you can use the free elements in your projects, including logos, PDFs, blog posts, social media, and course materials. This is generally acceptable as long as... View More
Ex: I’m trying to make a joker for a T-shirt to sell but instead of getting a picture of the joker from Google I just take a stencil of someone face and find the hair and mouth from different images and combine them then add extra things to the face such as tattoos . Is that now considered my art ?
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answered on Dec 4, 2023
Combining different images sourced from Google to create a new art piece for commercial purposes, such as selling on a T-shirt, involves important copyright considerations. Each image sourced from Google is likely protected by copyright, unless explicitly stated otherwise. This means that using... View More
I want to make a music album. One of my favorite TV shows of all time is The Wire (2002). It's places in Baltimore, a city I lived in. I had the idea to put a quote from The Wire at the end of each track. A quote that would describe the idea and emotion of the song. Each clip would be 5-15... View More
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answered on Dec 26, 2024
Using short clips from TV shows in music can be complex from a legal standpoint, but here's what you should know about your specific situation with The Wire.
While Fair Use does protect some creative transformations of copyrighted work, using TV show clips in a commercial music album... View More
Employer lives in Elkton, MD. I live in Florida. We agreed during interview that I would be getting started. That was verbal. Then via email it was agreed that in furnishing proprietary information to demonstrate my skill and abilities, I would be getting an offer within the next week. After... View More
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answered on Sep 7, 2024
You may have a valid claim for compensation or breach of agreement if the employer benefited from the proprietary information you provided based on the promise of a job offer or compensation. Even though the agreement was informal and communicated via email, such agreements can sometimes be... View More
Character A — “This is the book I brought *shows book*
Character B — “Yeah, X book by X author is one of my favorites, too”
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answered on Jul 18, 2024
You can show a book in your film and discuss it briefly without significant legal issues. However, you must ensure that your use is considered "fair use" under copyright law. This generally means your reference should be brief, for commentary or critique, and not negatively impact the... View More
I'm writing a song but it's based off another 90% words have been change composition and meaning could they sue me?
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answered on Sep 14, 2023
If you've substantially changed the lyrics, composition, and meaning of the song to create something new, it's less likely to be considered copyright infringement. However, whether a lawsuit can be brought against you would depend on the specific details and nuances of your song and the... View More
answered on Jan 16, 2023
Use of trademarked and copywrited products and characters in other products for sale is not permitted and will subject you to possible lawsuits and damages which will include forfeiture of all profits from such sales, payment of attorney's fees and court costs, plus possible punitive or... View More
answered on Sep 21, 2022
There's a joke among lawyers: "A picture is worth a thousand words, but when that picture is protected by image copyright, the picture is only worth three words: cease and desist."
No, you cannot use a copyrighted or trademarked image owned by another in the sale or marketing... View More
I have a question regarding U.S. Copyright.
I have a work that is written in English.
Let's say I translate that work into some other languages using Google Translate or some other online translation service and I edit a little bit to make the translation better.... View More
answered on Jul 25, 2022
The person who wrote the words originally, in its original language, is the copyright owner. The translation performed by Google Translate is a free translation service subject to whatever terms of use are written in the Google terms of use provisions. Your minor edits do not convert what (a)... View More
answered on Aug 5, 2021
You need to contact an attorney to understand the chances you have to get that mark
I am a freelance model , I post most of my work on my social media accounts and run that as my business page as well . For years small brands and large cooperations use and manipulate my images into business logos , promotional marketing and evening jewelry and interior design products . Can I... View More
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answered on Mar 3, 2021
You need to retain local counsel to set up the right corporate entities for you, then have an intellectual property attorney set up the appropriate protections for you. THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE! YOU NEED TO SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY WHO IS LICENSED IN YOUR STATE FOR LEGAL ADVICE. This is merely... View More
answered on Feb 17, 2021
“Under the doctrine of ‘patent exhaustion,’” United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., wrote in a 2017 decision, “once a patent holder sells an item, it can no longer control the item through the patent laws.... The purchaser and all subsequent owners are free to use... View More
If I wanted to publish a book and sell it with pictures of memes from the internet is there a copyright issue? I looked online and saw a lot of different opinions.
My first thought is always “what are the copyright implications”? These memes do not have signatures and I have no... View More
answered on Oct 27, 2020
That is a very interesting question. It is very likely a minefield.
You need to consult with an attorney for guidance and strategies to mitigate (can never bring to zero) your risk.
Also consult with an insurance agency specializing in copyright coverage. They can make an assessment... View More
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