Lawyers, Answer Questions  & Get Points Log In
Massachusetts Copyright Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Copyright for Massachusetts on
Q: Can I copyright a book under a pseudonym without having to give my real name?

I want to copyright my book. But I’ve written it under a pseudonym because I don’t want people know I wrote the book. Is there a way to do this without giving my true information? Maybe get a P.O. Box under the pseudonym?

Steve Charles Vondran
PREMIUM
Steve Charles Vondran PRO label
answered on Dec 17, 2022

Registering copyright for a book written under a pseudonym can be done without using a real name. The copyright registration process involves submitting your work, along with other necessary materials, to the copyright office. When registering copyright under a pseudonym, the copyright form should... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright and Intellectual Property for Massachusetts on
Q: If someone takes a screenshot of my tweet and shares it without my consent, is that a copyright violation?

Someone took a screenshot of something I said on twitter and removed the context to make me look like a sexual predator. I consider this to be potentially libelous and/or slanderous. Do I own the copyright of the tweet and if so, is there anything that can be done about it?

Steve Charles Vondran
PREMIUM
Steve Charles Vondran PRO label
answered on Mar 12, 2022

Good question. Generally speaking, a tweet is not typically copyrightable as it usually contains just a short phrase with a limited amount of characters and according to the United States Copyright Office ("USCO") this can be considered de minimus as far as creativity is concerned. Now,... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright for Massachusetts on
Q: I hired a company to create a logo

I hired a company to create a logo for my business which will be starting in the future. They created the logo for me and before they emailed it to me they wanted all sorts of money to get a copyrighted. I did a quick search and think I found out that it does not need to be copyrighted unless I... Read more »

Robert Kost
PREMIUM
Robert Kost
answered on Nov 17, 2021

There's a lot to sort out here. First, if you paid for a logo, I'm not sure why you're obligated to the vendor to copyright it (meaning: register it with the copyright office - see below). A more fitting form of legal protection is probably trademark, which is very different from... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright and Intellectual Property for Massachusetts on
Q: I want to make a nft colection, but I'm concerned about copyright.

The idea is to make dogs dressed as marvel superheroes(for example dog ironman, dog spiderman). Is that legal, and how far can I go in that direction without paying a fine

Robert Kost
PREMIUM
Robert Kost
answered on Nov 16, 2021

You are correct to be wary. I'm sure the trademark lawyers at Marvel are alert to any and all uses of their trademarks. It's not so much a "fine" that you would pay, as much as it might be money damages and an injunction against using the marks on your non-fungible and... Read more »

2 Answers | Asked in Copyright for Massachusetts on
Q: Am I allowed to publish my old LP collection on YouTube? Are there also state laws prohibiting this in Massachusetts?
Robert Kost
PREMIUM
Robert Kost
answered on Nov 8, 2021

By "publish," do you mean digitize and upload? Without knowing more, I believe the answer is pretty clearly NO.

Section 114 of the Copyright Act speaks directly to "sound recording" rights in, for example, your old LPs. That right belongs to the copyright owner....
Read more »

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright for Massachusetts on
Q: How do i go about trade marking a name ??? What are cost involved in acquiring a trade mark name
Marcos Garciaacosta
Marcos Garciaacosta
answered on Aug 9, 2021

You need to consult with an attorney and understand your options

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright for Massachusetts on
Q: Do I have to be associated with a public library in order to print and sell t-shirts with Nat Library Symbol?

The ALA site suggests the symbol is free for all to download and use, but also mentions it is intended for libraries.

Marcos Garciaacosta
Marcos Garciaacosta
answered on Jul 22, 2021

Very likely

Its use is probably limited in scope

Consult with an attorney to understand your risk and limits

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright, Internet Law and Trademark for Massachusetts on
Q: My dad was an ebay guy in the 90s . I sold.com was mailed to him then. Does he still controll it? Not used in years than

I found a catalogue mailed to my dads house. No postal stamp that I see. He was an EBay guy back in 98 to 02. I never knew of Isold.com. But a catalogue was mailed to his house with that in the name line. Could he still have controll of that name? Could it be sold to pay for his long term... Read more »

Omar Darwich
Omar Darwich
answered on Jul 9, 2021

alot of depends here. I think more facts are going to be needed.

best course of action would be to consult with an attorney

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright for Massachusetts on
Q: Can I print & sell a book 1st published in 1885, Reprinted 2004 with "All Rights Reserved Revised Edition 1975?"

I have a paperback book 10"x14" of blank genealogy charts that I want to print and sell. The book of charts were devised by William H Whitmore, first published in Boston in 1885; Reprinted 2004 by Tuttle Antiquarian Books, "All Rights Reserved Revised Edition, 1975." Tuttle... Read more »

Marcos Garciaacosta
Marcos Garciaacosta
answered on Apr 17, 2021

Probably.

Depends on what you have in your possession.

IF it is a document or book printed in 1885, you maybe able to make copies of it.

IF YOU have a print of that book, but that is after 1930 or that the PRINT has a copyright, you need permission of the publisher of that edition.

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright and Intellectual Property for Massachusetts on
Q: A photographer is claiming use of an image without permission and demanding copyright damages. What do we do?

N/A

Steve Charles Vondran
PREMIUM
Steve Charles Vondran PRO label
answered on Jan 20, 2021

There are many "photo trolls" out there seeking thousands of dollars for use of a single image. There are many different things we consider in deciding what amounts are fair and proper under the copyright law. For example, some factors to think of are:

1. Is the photo...
Read more »

2 Answers | Asked in Copyright and Trademark for Massachusetts on
Q: Hello, I want to trademark Keep it Kind Clothing. Is it available?

There is this filed.

KEEP IT KIND

Filed: September 6, 2019

Clothing, namely, shirts and hats

Serial Number: 88979131

Marcos Garciaacosta
Marcos Garciaacosta
answered on Dec 28, 2020

No you can't.

Too close and will create confusion.

Consult with an attorney.

View More Answers

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright for Massachusetts on
Q: I'm getting email threats by an IP law firm in CA over an innocent mistake I made 7 yrs ago experimenting with HTML site

7 years ago, while a newly trained massage therapist I made a site for my "future dream practice" using an HTML template. I didn't know then about copyright for images online. I picked some random images from google just to use as placeholders to substitute the empty gray placeholder... Read more »

Marcos Garciaacosta
Marcos Garciaacosta
answered on Dec 2, 2020

You should consider consulting with an attorney.

Unless you stopped paying for hosting or the domain name it is difficult to think that the website is not active.

Regardless you should remove all offending material ASAP.

You may want to negotiate with them, hopefully without...
Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright for Massachusetts on
Q: A blogger took pictures from my private Facebook page and used them to write an offensive blog post. Is this legal?

Are there any copyright violations? I believe that someone I am friends with on Facebook, took a screenshot of my private pictures and shared them via email with this blogger? Is it worth retaining a lawyer?

Timothy John Billick
Timothy John Billick
answered on Oct 6, 2020

This will largely hinge on (1) Facebook's Terms of Use ("TOU"); (2) Your privacy settings on this particular photo; and (3) the manner in which you chose to have this photo shared. Generally your right to privacy only extends to where a person "has a reasonable expectancy"... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright and Intellectual Property for Massachusetts on
Q: Can a vehicle be copyrighted as a work of art?

I designed the unique custom paint scheme for my car. Many publications take photos of custom vehicles then produce a product, magazine articles, for profit. Can a copyright protect me from someone else profiting off my labors?

John Brendan Riordan
John Brendan Riordan
answered on Jul 16, 2020

Absolutely! You can definitley protect your design. Imagine someone took a picture off a photographer's website and printed it on their vehicle; just because they used it on their car doesn't mean they haven't infringed on that copyright! The important part is that it's not the... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright for Massachusetts on
Q: I want to open a sub shop that has the name Gremlin Grub Stop. Gremlins* seems to be trademarked by warner bros. issues?

would i need permissions

John B. Hudak
John B. Hudak
answered on Jun 19, 2020

One can commit trademark infringement if there is use of a mark where: (a) the mark is the same as -- or similar to -- another mark; and (b) that use will cause likelihood of confusion to a potential consumer, that both marks are indicating a common source of the goods/services.

In addition...
Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright, Intellectual Property and Patents (Intellectual Property) for Massachusetts on
Q: hi, I had discovered a novel compound that shown an antifungal assay, this has never been reported, can i patent it?
Marcos Garciaacosta
Marcos Garciaacosta
answered on Apr 16, 2020

Depends

There are a lot of factors in play

Has that compound being used before for something?

Has it been in existence before?

Did it have other elements that can be considered generic? so that a previous compound may be used if minor changes are made

Is it...
Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright, Intellectual Property and Trademark for Massachusetts on
Q: Supreme logo copyright/ trademark question

Hello

I want to make t-shirts with the box logo, but without the word "supreme." I am making shirts with simular (looks exactly the same) font with the same red but it says "Winga." Is this illegal? I am also making shirts with other colors.

I tried to contact... Read more »

Marcos Garciaacosta
Marcos Garciaacosta
answered on Apr 16, 2020

We need more details so I can give you better guidance.

Check my website www.legalbizglobal.com

480 324 6378

It will depend on how similar the designs are.

If you are just printing supreme on your t-shirts for example, you may have an argument that it is a generic...
Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright and Patents (Intellectual Property) for Massachusetts on
Q: Would I be the "Sole Rights Holder of the material?" It's my video of a comedy show I taped with permission of the club?

I recently discovered a vhs tape of a stand-up comedy shot that I shot in 1993 at a Comedy Club. I was given permission by the comedy club to tape it as I was one of the comedians performing that night. I recently viewed the video again for the first time in almost 30 years....and 2 of the... Read more »

Marcos Garciaacosta
Marcos Garciaacosta
answered on Apr 3, 2020

Very likely you are not. It is very possible the people in the video have some rights over the video.

You may have to reach out to the people live or their estate and get permission from them.

You should consult with an attorney, and also talk with an insurance company that...
Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright for Massachusetts on
Q: Do I own a copyright if someone else fixes my work in tangible form before I do, e.g. a dance or song I create?

Suppose, for example, I choreograph a dance and teach it to a group. But before I take other action, someone from the group makes a video of himself doing or teaching the dance---not claiming to have created it, in fact explicitly giving me credit. The dance is now fixed in tangible form, but not... Read more »

Tania Maria Williams
Tania Maria Williams
answered on Feb 18, 2020

Did you write down the steps to the choreography? If so, you may have fixed tangible expression already. If not, I would suggest putting it into a tangible fixed form as soon as possible and then registering it with the Copyright office. If I can assist you further, please feel free to email me at... Read more »

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright, Probate and Trademark for Massachusetts on
Q: How do I find out about a will from my great grandfather??

He was an inventor and patented at least 2 machines that I no of. How can I did out about patents payments inherited residual or my rights???

Lillian J. LaRosa
Lillian J. LaRosa
answered on Aug 21, 2019

If you are the Court appointed Personal Representative of his estate, then you have authority to

contact the Patent Office or you can engage counsel or a search service. Also, you will be able to

review his tax returns, and financial and all other records.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.