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I accidentally viewed z******** content in New York out of curiosity and then became concerned about its legality. Will I potentially face any legal trouble for watching this content?
answered on Apr 26, 2025
I am an expert in paraphilias and the law, and a New York lawyer, so I am happy to help you with this question. Zoophilia content is illegal, but it is not criminalized to the same degree as child sexual abuse material. Merely possessing a zoophilia image or other obscene image (other than child... View More 
I discovered after the death of my ex-romantic and art partner that much of his artwork was based on my photography and social media posts. I want to publish his art alongside the references he used, but I am concerned about the legality of including certain images.
Some of the photographs... View More
answered on Apr 7, 2025
1. Using Referenced Images for Commentary or Analysis
Including the original reference images alongside your ex-partner’s artwork for the purpose of commentary, critique, or scholarship can potentially fall under Fair Use, especially if:
The inclusion transforms the original... View More
I discovered after the death of my ex-romantic and art partner that much of his artwork was based on my photography and social media posts. I want to publish his art alongside the references he used, but I am concerned about the legality of including certain images.
Some of the photographs... View More
answered on Apr 7, 2025
That's a great question, and I think that you should be on pretty safe ground because your use is transformative: it is designed to shine a light into your partner's creative process, which is quite different from the original purposes for which the reference images were created. I would... View More
I have an old, deactivated iPhone left behind by my ex, which still has her Apple ID signed in. We have no contact, and I have not been granted permission to access the device. I recently found out she was cheating on me. Is it illegal to access this device under these circumstances?
answered on Apr 4, 2025
Yes, there are computer crime laws that prohibit a person from “Intentionally and without authorization or by exceeding valid authorization, access or cause access to be made to a computer program, computer, computer system, or computer network.” This could be used to lay charges against you... View More
The phrase I want to use is trademarked by one LLC in connection with fragrances and related products, and by another in connection with coffee-based beverages and caffeinated soft drinks. I would like the trademark for a YouTube video show about basketball, and potentially for merchandise... View More
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answered on Jan 17, 2025
Yes, it's possible to trademark a phrase for use in an unrelated field, even if it's already trademarked in other fields. If your trademark does not create a 'likelihood of confusion' with the existing trademarks in the minds of consumers, you may be able to register it for your... View More
A person made a non-recorded inflammatory comment to my now deceased mother, along the lines of telling her to shut up without saying those exact words. My mother was dying at the time. When she refused communicating with her, this same person sent a handwritten note scolding and berating my... View More
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answered on Nov 29, 2024
I'm sorry to hear about the difficult situation you've been facing, especially during such a challenging time after your mother's passing. I hope the following information provides some clarity and guidance.
Please note that this is general information based on the details... View More
My parent died of cancer years ago but the latest damaging action by the offending party happened this calendar year. Prior to death, person spoke to her she could not express opinion without she asked her to. Then mailed a dismissive handwritten card when they stayed away. At the funeral, this... View More
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answered on Nov 26, 2024
To begin with, you mentioned that the incident happened years ago. Generally speaking, with some exceptions, personal injury actions (not medical malpractice) commenced against a non-municipal defendant have a three year statute of limitations. Additionally, based upon the fact pattern you... View More
My parent died of cancer years ago but the latest damaging action by the offending party happened this calendar year. Prior to death, person spoke to her she could not express opinion without she asked her to. Then mailed a dismissive handwritten card when they stayed away. At the funeral, this... View More
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answered on Nov 29, 2024
I'm sorry to hear about the distressing experiences you've been facing, especially during such a difficult time after the loss of your parent. I hope the following information provides some clarity and guidance on your situation.
Please note that this is general information based... View More
My parent died of cancer years ago but the latest damaging action by the offending party happened this calendar year. Prior to death, person spoke to her she could not express opinion without she asked her to. Then mailed a dismissive handwritten card when they stayed away. At the funeral, this... View More
answered on Nov 26, 2024
Sorry to hear what you're going through. Generally speaking, to bring an action for negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress, you need to demonstrate conduct that is "so outrageous in character, and so extreme in degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency and... View More
I want to host survivor pools (contestants pick a winner of an NFL game each week) and season long contests (contestants will create a lineup each week picking from a pool of NFL players, accumulating a score correlating to how the NFL player performs that week). Is this legal? Are these... View More
answered on Apr 3, 2024
Many states have laws specifically addressing gambling. Some have exceptions for "games of skill," but the definitions and interpretations vary. In most states, to avoid gambling issues, there have to be no entry fees and prizes must be predetermined and not based on entry fee totals.
I want to host survivor pools (contestants pick a winner of an NFL game each week) and season long contests (contestants will create a lineup each week picking from a pool of NFL players, accumulating a score correlating to how the NFL player performs that week). Is this legal? Are these... View More
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answered on Apr 6, 2024
The legality of hosting fantasy football contests for money depends on the specific laws of the jurisdiction where you plan to operate the website. In the United States, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 includes a carve-out for certain fantasy sports contests, deeming... View More
I have some nonmonetary videos on YouTube and they're like slideshows of pictures of me. In some of them I'm at my boyfriend's parents old house. I took the pictures and they're just of me no one else but the background is inside one of the rooms of his parents old house. In the... View More
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answered on Mar 30, 2024
Based on the information provided, it is unlikely that your ex-boyfriend or his parents would have a valid basis for a copyright claim on your videos. Here's why:
1. Copyright protects original works of authorship, such as photographs, videos, and other creative content. In this case,... View More
Onlyfans makes every user that signs up agree that they are 18 or older before they are able to view/buy any explicit content, but only asks content creators for an ID. If a person DMs an onlyfans link to their followers, could they be charged if the recipient happens to be a minor?
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answered on Jan 21, 2024
In situations where a person sends an OnlyFans link to someone on Instagram or Facebook without knowing the recipient's age, potential legal issues could arise. While OnlyFans requires users to confirm that they are 18 or older, it is not foolproof, and minors could potentially create accounts... View More
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answered on Jan 21, 2024
Sending a link to an OnlyFans page, in and of itself, typically does not constitute the dissemination of indecent material under New York Penal Law 235.22. The law generally focuses on the actual dissemination or sharing of explicit or obscene content. OnlyFans is a platform where users share adult... View More
I was the complainant in a pornography-related charge in May 2022, despite being an adult. My personal information, including my address and phone number, has not been redacted from the police report, and the police have informed me that they cannot redact it. This information is currently being... View More
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answered on Jun 16, 2025
What happened to you is not just deeply upsetting—it’s a threat to your safety and privacy. In New York, when a police report includes unredacted personal information, and that information is later used maliciously, it can raise legal and constitutional concerns. While law enforcement may argue... View More
I was arrested 11 years ago for a misdemeanor prostitution charge in which I paid all fines and completed court-ordered classes. I haven’t been arrested for anything else since then. Could the Clean Slate Act help to remove this from my record or clean my name on the internet, and assist me in... View More
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answered on Jun 10, 2025
You’ve already done the hard part—owning your past, completing what the court asked, and staying on the right path for over a decade. Under New York’s Clean Slate Act, which begins taking effect in 2024 and 2025, many misdemeanor convictions, including prostitution charges, can be... View More
I accidentally linked my mom's credit card to my PayPal account and spent over one thousand dollars for personal expenses. Although I'm an authorized user with no restrictions on how I can use the card, my mom reported the charges as fraud. I haven't told her it was me since she... View More
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answered on Jun 10, 2025
This situation could become serious if it's not cleared up quickly. Even though you’re an authorized user, if your mother told the credit card company the charges were fraudulent—and she doesn’t correct that—it could be treated as a criminal matter. If the bank believes someone... View More
I'm using a hand gesture that portrays a 'W' with my fingers for a brand related to a blockchain tech company. I intend to use it in social media videos and photos. I have researched and found that this hand gesture is likely not trademarked. The brand is not associated with music or... View More
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answered on May 28, 2025
You’ve done a solid search and found no active trademarks covering a ‘W’ hand gesture for blockchain tech. Because trademarks are tied to specific classes and uses, the simple use in videos and photos is unlikely to trigger a cease and desist notice.
Most trademark claims focus on... View More
I am wondering if the Audio Home Recording Act, specifically the provision (section 1008) that allows making analog or digital audio recordings for noncommercial use, permits using a theoretical program that downloads YouTube videos' audio as MP3 files for personal use. The program would be... View More
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answered on May 18, 2025
The AHRA, enacted in 1992 and codified under Title 17 of the U.S. Code, Chapter 10, addresses the legality of making audio recordings for personal use. Section 1008 of the Act states:
"No action may be brought under this title alleging infringement of copyright based on the... View More
Back in February, a storage company accessed my personal information from a U-Haul truck I rented to move out of a unit. However, I rented the U-Haul from a different location and returned it there, so the storage company had no reason to access my information. I only emptied a unit owned by my... View More
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answered on May 16, 2025
If a storage company accessed your personal information from U-Haul without your permission or a legitimate reason, this could raise serious privacy concerns. Since you rented and returned the truck at a different location and had no direct relationship with the storage company, their access to... View More
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