Get free answers to your Intellectual Property legal questions from lawyers in your area.
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answered on Dec 14, 2023
When a company that owns a patent goes bankrupt, the fate of the patent depends on the bankruptcy proceedings and the decisions made by the bankruptcy court. The patent itself doesn't automatically become inactive or "dead" due to the bankruptcy.
In a bankruptcy case, the... View More 
I own a music catalogue and want to make "music nfts" and sell them via Open Sea"? They would be sold only as collectibles with no promise of upside. Would the SEC look at them as securities?
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answered on Oct 11, 2024
If you're selling music NFTs as collectibles without any promises of profit or financial returns, the SEC is less likely to classify them as securities. The key factor is whether buyers are investing with the expectation of earning something in return. Since your NFTs are purely for collecting... View More
Two main questions.
1) Is it legal to sell the website in case someone makes an offer?
2) Can the website be monetized? Like through subscriptions or donations. Possibly setting it up as a company of some sort
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answered on Sep 30, 2024
If you are an F1 student in the U.S., you need to be cautious about engaging in any kind of employment, including monetizing a website. Selling a website is considered a transaction, and since F1 students are limited to certain types of work (like on-campus jobs or approved internships), selling a... View More
I have a client request a graphic consisting of 3 existing elements of other sports teams logos.
Is there a way for me to send you the image so you can take a quick look at it and give an opinion on if it is or isn't infringing?
1. New York Knicks logo but using different font... View More
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answered on Jul 18, 2024
When creating a graphic using elements from existing sports team logos, you need to be careful about copyright and trademark infringement. Using parts of the New York Knicks logo, the Villanova Wildcats letter V, and the Wildcats mascot, even with modifications, could still pose legal risks. These... View More
I am sued for copyright infringement.
I requested, paid for, and received the original registration documents, the deposits, and the correspondence from the congress library about the specific copyright. It looks like the examiner made a mistake and oversight on his part (18 years ago),... View More
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answered on Aug 22, 2023
Based on your description, you seem to be suggesting that there was a potential error made by the Copyright Office in registering a work that was previously indicated to be ineligible for copyright. Here are some general points to consider:
Validity of the Copyright: Copyright registrations... View More
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answered on Jul 29, 2023
On Monday, April 27, 2020, a trademark application was filed for ROWDY MERMAID with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The USPTO has given the ROWDY MERMAID trademark a serial number of 88890277. The federal status of this trademark filing is REGISTERED as of Tuesday, June 22, 2021.... View More
we will produce a hot sauce from Costa Rica made with actual Tabasco peppers. Can we say on the label "made with Tabasco peppers" or will we have problems with the Tabasco McIlhenny company? Thank you!
answered on May 15, 2023
No one can guarantee you that a company using the term "tabasco" as part of their name won't TRY to create "problems" for you. That said, it would be very difficult for any such company to prevent you from using the phrase "made with tabasco peppers," as... View More
I make cups with bluey images on them. Are bluey images copyrighted?
answered on May 2, 2023
Generally, copyright belongs to the creator or author from the moment they create or author something, whether they register it or not, and you can only use something for commercial purposes if you created it, bought it, or "licensed" it. (There are some exceptions to the general rules,... View More
I’m a YouTuber and I’m curious what is fair use and what isn’t.
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answered on Mar 29, 2023
It is possible to be hit with a copyright infringement claim for sharing copyrighted material in a group chat or showing it to people in person without permission. Fair use is a legal doctrine that allows for limited use of copyrighted material without the owner's permission for specific... View More
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answered on Mar 25, 2023
NO you cannot do so. The name "Tater Tot" is a registered trademark of Ore-Ida. You would end up paying a significant sum of money since you would be infringement of their trademark. What you need to do is develop a business plan and a different name for your product that is catchy.... View More
Also includes the words "the new" at the beginning and the word "revue" at the end; (i.e, the new.......revue). As a tribute to the orginal activity, which is no longer in business, would this be an infringement issue?
answered on Mar 13, 2023
It would not be infringing to use the name or trademark of a company that is no longer in business, and even if it were, the use would be "nominative fair use" which means you are simply naming it for identification purposes.
The title format "the new ... revue" could... View More
answered on Feb 14, 2023
This will depend on the details of your specific game, and it would require a professional search. When we do these, we hire a specialized searching company that performs a “clearance search” (in this case, they would search for those patents claiming a trading card game that are closest to... View More
answered on Oct 26, 2022
Your question did not contain the list. But even without seeing the list, I can warn you that some pending applications won't show up on a list. The default is that US applications are published 18 months after filing. So most applications filed within the last 18 months won't show... View More
There is a skincare and tech company that use the word MERAKI and I’m planning to use the same word for my clothing brand. Is that considered copyright. I have a different logo though
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answered on Jul 3, 2022
First, your issue falls under trademark rather than copyright. Second, why do you want to use a word associated with an existing company? You may be able to obtain a mark due to your logo, but it is not the best approach. You should strive to come-up with a unique name for your company and/or... View More
I am making the story unique and bringing my own twist on Christmas and a dark tale of horror with my own unique characters and ideas.
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answered on May 14, 2022
Your situation requires more facts and to determine what you can due without getting into serious legal problems, you must retain an experienced patent law attorney. With modern technology, you can be represented by any high-quality attorney in New Jersey irrespective of geography.
I am a small business wellness consulting company providing services to non-profit and health care organizations and I would like to know what terms should be included in my contracts? Additionally, are there any pro-bono resources that can assist with this? Thank you!
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answered on May 2, 2022
You can begin to understand the basic components of a contract here:
https://www.contractstandards.com/public#contracts
Choosing among clauses, authoring the right clauses, and assembling a contract that makes sense for you is the job of an attorney. It is a skill and an art, and... View More
Do I ned to sign anything if he’s the only one applying
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answered on Feb 20, 2022
Just read the form or the instructions for it and you will have your answer.
I am reviewing the IP section of an agreement from a freelancer for a copywriting project. This first passage (above) is the only part I'm not sure about. The entire section reads as follows: "Ownership of Deliverables. Subject to Freelancer and third-party rights in Pre‐Existing... View More
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answered on Feb 20, 2022
Never sign any contract of any significance without having it reviewed first by an attorney. The cost of an hour of attorney's time could save you from the cost of an expensive lawsuit because you did not understand the contract. In addition, by not having an attorney negotiate a contract on... View More
Shopify took down my listing on my website based on a DMCA takedown notice which doesn’t have any contact information, sender’s name or signature!! Is this even considered a valid notice? They are asking me to file a counter, but my question is whom do I file counter to? I don’t even know who... View More
answered on Aug 18, 2021
They do not want to be in the position of deciding who is the rightful owner of the intellectual property
Consult with an attorney.
Shopify took down my listing on my website based on a DMCA takedown notice which doesn’t have any contact information, sender’s name or signature!! Is this even considered a valid notice? They are asking me to file a counter, but my question is whom do I file counter to? I don’t even know who... View More
answered on Aug 18, 2021
Yes they can
They do not want to be in the position of deciding who is the rightful owner of the intellectual property
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