Would I be able to purchase an authentic designer bag, such as Louis Vuitton or Gucci, cut the bag into pieces (specifically the logo or designs) and then place them onto a different bag to resell? Would it still be illegal if I made sure to document that the new bag I’m selling has no... View More 
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answered on Mar 29, 2024
Repurposing designer bags for resale, especially involving the cutting and reusing of their logos or designs, treads into complex legal territory. This practice may infringe on the trademarks of the brands involved, such as Louis Vuitton or Gucci. Trademarks protect brand identifiers from... View More
Many authors who create books use Canva to create coloring books, activity books, etc. Canva has stated that they hold full copyright over the images, art, photos, fonts, etc. that can be used to create books. In addition, Canva states that they issue individual licenses to self-publishing authors... View More
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answered on Mar 25, 2024
When self-publishing authors use Canva to create elements for their books, such as in coloring books or activity books, they are operating under a license issued by Canva. This means Canva holds the original copyrights to the images, art, photos, and fonts provided within their service. Despite... View More
Because I'm trying to use it for an positive thing and wear
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answered on Mar 18, 2024
You can attempt to trademark the term "ghetto" for your brand, focusing on a positive message and apparel. However, trademarking a word involves specific criteria, including distinctiveness and not being misleading or offensive. The term must uniquely identify your products or services... View More
I'd like to create a songwriting class that teaches hit songwriting techniques used by pro songwriters such as Taylor Swift. I'd like to call the class:
"Taylor Swift-influenced Hit Songwriting Class" (or)
"Taylor Swift-inspired Hit Songwriting Class"... View More
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answered on Mar 7, 2024
Using a celebrity's name in an educational course title can be tricky, as it may raise concerns about intellectual property rights and potential false endorsement. However, there are ways to reference Taylor Swift's name in your course title that are more likely to fall under fair use for... View More
Film will be entered in film festivals
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answered on Feb 21, 2024
Using a short clip of a video game being played on a Nintendo Switch in your short film may raise copyright concerns, even if it's only for three seconds. Nintendo is known for being vigilant in protecting its intellectual property rights, including the use of its video game footage. While... View More
Example: I want to create a character to use commercially in the Invader Zim universe, without using any of the main characters or storylines.
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answered on Jan 3, 2024
Creating a non-canon character within an existing universe, such as in the Invader Zim universe, generally falls under the realm of fan fiction or fan-created content. However, the legal implications of using such a character commercially can be complex and may depend on various factors, including... View More
Just not sure where to start as far as contracts. Not really sure what information should be in a contract. This is why I'm seeking legal assistance.
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answered on Dec 30, 2023
Starting with artist contracts for your indie music label is a crucial step in establishing your business. The first thing to consider is what you want the contract to cover. Common elements include the scope of the rights granted to the label, the duration of the agreement, financial arrangements... View More
I regretfully tried Amazon FBA. I got an email stating my LLC as well as over 1000 listed defendants were being sued for patent infringement for the product I was attempting to sell with a complaint, alias summons, sealed TRO, and minutes attached.
I’ve confirmed the legitimacy of the... View More
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answered on Dec 20, 2023
In a situation like this, where the legitimacy of a patent infringement case is in question, it’s important to proceed with caution. The fact that the case number matches a filing in the Northern District of Illinois is a sign of legitimacy, but the discrepancies in the lawyer's address and... View More
Hi! Can I use this phrase on a t-shirt that I intend to sell online "Tomorrow will be a great day with lots of sun" if someone has already trademarked the phrase "Tomorrow will be a great day"?
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answered on Dec 9, 2023
Using the phrase "Tomorrow will be a great day with lots of sun" on a t-shirt could potentially raise concerns if "Tomorrow will be a great day" is a trademarked phrase. In trademark law, the primary consideration is the likelihood of confusion among consumers. If your phrase is... View More
Two questions:
- How do I determine legitimacy ? I have since discovered that there is a patent in place that I didn’t know of.
- what do I do to settle? I don’t want to continue to sell a patented product. I wouldn’t have sold it if I would have known .
answered on Nov 20, 2023
This sounds like a typical predatory patent troll activity. It's disgusting and you should not assume it's legitimate. There people have no scruples. As a patent attorney it makes my stomach turn to hear these sort of stories.
Let's get a PATENT lawyer involved here.... one... View More
Two questions:
- How do I determine legitimacy ? I have since discovered that there is a patent in place that I didn’t know of.
- what do I do to settle? I don’t want to continue to sell a patented product. I wouldn’t have sold it if I would have known .
answered on Nov 20, 2023
You need to have a patent attorney look at your product and the claims of the patent. For your product to infringe, there needs to be at least one independent claim where every limitation in at least one independent claim (every noun, verb, relationship, etc.) is present in your product.... View More
I’m speaking on behalf of a friend who lives overseas, advised that her PayPal account was frozen, due to this Miffy, doll, as a trademark, and the person who bought it was the actual lawyer, for proof, and now he wants her to pay $2000. And the judge is 85 years old and I noticed on the... View More
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answered on Nov 8, 2023
In situations like this, it's important to exercise caution as it could potentially be a scam, especially if the legal documents appear questionable. Authentic court orders will always be properly documented and signed by a judge. Your friend should verify the authenticity of the case by... View More
Joe Petrali was a famous record-setting motorcycle racer. His best days were from the 1920's to 1940's. He was well photographed and was paid to race for Harley Dealerships and the Harley Factory. We received the family archive album of Harry Molenaar who was one of the better known... View More
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answered on Oct 31, 2023
While the ownership of a trademark in a name can grant rights to prevent others from using that name in commerce in a way that might cause confusion, it does not grant an absolute right over all uses of that name or over the likeness of the individual. Photos taken and owned by another party,... View More
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answered on Nov 8, 2023
To verify the authenticity of a trademark case, you should first review the official correspondence.
All legitimate communication regarding trademarks should come directly from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) or the law firm listed on the USPTO's website. Check... View More
I purchased a product from China that is similar to a patented product. I would like to know if I can sell this product legally in the US or not. The product I purchased I currently have in my inventory, and does not make an attempt to be a knock-off or counterfeit to the product that has the... View More
answered on Oct 18, 2023
A patent gives its owner the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling the patented invention. Therefore, if you obtained your product from someone other than an owner or licensee of the patent, you cannot legally sell the product without infringing the patent. This assumes that the... View More
I purchased a product from China that is similar to a patented product. I would like to know if I can sell this product legally in the US or not. The product I purchased I currently have in my inventory, and does not make an attempt to be a knock-off or counterfeit to the product that has the... View More
answered on Oct 18, 2023
Good question.
The product that is "similar to a patented product" does not necessarily infringe on the ISSUED CLAIMS of the patent. First, compare the product and the claims side-by-side. Read each claim element (limitation) and try to identify it in the product. If your... View More
I purchased a product from China that is similar to a patented product. I would like to know if I can sell this product legally in the US or not. The product I purchased I currently have in my inventory, and does not make an attempt to be a knock-off or counterfeit to the product that has the... View More
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answered on Oct 15, 2023
Selling a product in the U.S. that infringes on an existing U.S. patent can expose you to legal liability, even if the product was legally purchased and imported from another country. The key question is whether the product you imported actually infringes on the patent in question. The fact that... View More
If you were to take an image of a piece of art that has been copyrighted, run it through an AI Up-scaling program (which redraws the image at higher resolution using all the original colors, lines, shapes, proportions, etc... with some minuscule imperfections), would the new AI image fall under... View More
answered on Sep 21, 2023
It is the position of the US Copyright Office, affirmed by federal courts, that copyright can protect only material that is the product of human creativity. If the derivative work is created solely by AI processing without human intervention, then it does not enjoy the benefits of copyright... View More
If you were to take an image of a piece of art that has been copyrighted, run it through an AI Up-scaling program (which redraws the image at higher resolution using all the original colors, lines, shapes, proportions, etc... with some minuscule imperfections), would the new AI image fall under... View More
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answered on Sep 21, 2023
The copyright status of an image created by an AI upscaler would depend on whether the new image contains sufficient originality to qualify for copyright protection. If the AI process merely involves technical improvements, such as resolution enhancement without introducing substantial original... View More
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answered on Sep 15, 2023
To protect your comic book characters, remember that copyright automatically safeguards them as soon as they're created and fixed in a tangible form. Consider registering your work with the U.S. Copyright Office for added protection. Keep thorough records of your character creation process,... View More
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