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New York Copyright Questions & Answers
2 Answers | Asked in Copyright and Intellectual Property for New York on
Q: As an American with Caribbean heritage I seek help in getting paid from a Publishing company that is using my name for

My name for free and has refused to pay for the book and it content they are selling online as a collectible against my will and knowledge. I would like to file a suit against this company for millions of dollars since 2017 to this writing I have not been given a dime for my work, beside $100 for... View More

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Mar 8, 2023

This may be something that a copyright/intellectual property attorney would have insight into. You could repost and add Copyright and Intellectual Property as categories. Not all questions are picked up on this forum, but you might increase chances for a response by adding those headings. Good luck

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1 Answer | Asked in Copyright and Civil Rights for New York on
Q: Hi. I downloaded an app facedance and took pic of my coworker and it showed his face dance. Can he sue me for that?

He asked me to send it to him

James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Feb 25, 2023

It's unlikely that your coworker could sue you for taking a picture of him using an app, as long as you had his consent to take the picture. However, if he did not give his consent and you took the picture in a place where he had a reasonable expectation of privacy, he may have a case for... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Copyright, Intellectual Property, Civil Rights and Gov & Administrative Law for New York on
Q: What laws must I know to write a book or movie about a fictional version of a recentish event, mentioning real names?

The event in question took place a couple of decades ago. Some of the main people involved are dead and some are alive. It's a relatively well known/publicized event, though not everyone's involvement is super well known its all easily available in news articles. I want to know about... View More

Daniel Michael Luisi
Daniel Michael Luisi
answered on Feb 3, 2023

You potentially have to contend with the New York Civil Rights Law §§ 50 and 51, New York’s “Right of Privacy” law, which prohibit the use “for advertising purposes, or for the purposes of trade” of the name, portrait or picture of any living person without obtaining his or her prior... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Consumer Law, Business Law and Copyright for New York on
Q: If the customer saw the mistake and remained silent until the process is completed, am I still liable?

A customer asked me to plant ten trees in her yard. My worker planted the wrong kind of trees. The customer saw it after the third tree but remained silent. After planting all the trees, she demanded to get rid of the wrong trees and plant the right ones at a 25% discount. Another offer she had is... View More

Samuil Buschkin
Samuil Buschkin pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jan 22, 2023

You should speak to a lawyer because ALL details and fine points matter for a correct analysis. Generally, the parties are bound by the terms of the agreement. If the customer wants to modify (renegotiate) the agreement it can be done only per the terms of the agreement and with the other... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Copyright, Intellectual Property and Trademark for New York on
Q: In a YouTube video, can my nickname be Captain America or would it be copyrighted

Creating a YouTube channel in tourism for Latin Americans visiting USA. Would like to use the nickname Captain America

Daniel Michael Luisi
Daniel Michael Luisi
answered on Jan 20, 2023

You will have to research whether the current owner of the Captain America trademark owns the rights in similar service or product classes to your proposed use to promote tourism. Whether you will be sued for infringement will then depend on whether your uses interfere with the rights owner in... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Intellectual Property and Copyright for New York on
Q: RE: Comedians Intellectual Property. Assume I produce YouTube videos as tributes to specific comedians and their content

Does the attribution to the original comedian overcome copyright? And, would the answer be different if the videos were free to the public versus being included in a fee based subscription?

Daniel Michael Luisi
Daniel Michael Luisi
answered on Jan 20, 2023

No, attribution is not a defense to copyright infringement. Fair use might be a defense. Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act provides for certain cases where permission from the rights holder is not required. Courts assess whether the "fair use" defense applies based on four factors:... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright and Intellectual Property for New York on
Q: What can I do if I have created a design, uploaded it online and it has been used uncredited, a copyright violation?

If I have uploaded a design on a file-sharing website under a Creative Commons non-commercial license, and somebody uses it uncredited for a commercial purpose. If the site refuses to take it down, what recourse do I have?

Daniel Michael Luisi
Daniel Michael Luisi
answered on Jan 17, 2023

If your copyright is unregistered, you can only file a lawsuit where you will have to prove damages such as lost profits. The better move is to register your copyright with the USPTO. Then you will have access to statutory damages (only requiring proof of infringement) of anywhere between 750 and... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright for New York on
Q: TRO expired on January 12th. The Court required me to explain irreparable harm if I have a motion for a PIO.

1. All documents were still Under Seal on January 3rd. Then The Court required me to disclose. I disclosed all documents on January 6th, 2023. ( See the attached file.)

2. The defendant made defamation statements against me when he has not seen any document on January 3rd, 2023. This is... View More

Daniel Michael Luisi
Daniel Michael Luisi
answered on Jan 16, 2023

Any attorney would need more information to figure out what is going on and advise you how to proceed.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law, Intellectual Property and Copyright for New York on
Q: I work at a cookie company and it is not my job to create cookie inventions but I made one on a slow day and they stole

Selling my cookie I invented in stores without paying me. They also didn’t let me name it and are asking customers online to compete in naming the cookie and winner gets creator rights on the cookie. I was basically thrown to the side after I made them a delicious cookie they liked and they... View More

Daniel Michael Luisi
Daniel Michael Luisi
answered on Jan 2, 2023

By itself, a recipe is not protected by copyright law because it is only a list of ingredients. See U.S. Copyright Office, Circular 33, Works Not Protected By Copyright.

However, a recipe embedded in detailed instructions on how to combine the ingredients, especially when written in your...
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1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law, Copyright, Business Formation and Business Law for New York on
Q: If there is no written employment agreement, is the work for hire doctrine still valid? Is the employer still the author

na

Daniel Michael Luisi
Daniel Michael Luisi
answered on Dec 18, 2022

If you were an independent contractor as opposed to an employee, the work for hire doctrine wouldn’t apply absent a signed writing to that effect executed by both parties to the contract. However, whether you would be considered an “employee” for the purposes of copyright law is not as simple... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Contracts and Copyright for New York on
Q: How can I prove my ownership of a story when I do not have documented legal proof but I have other evidence to Prove it

I have a story, but I do not have any documented proof of ownership. If this story is stolen, can I prove my ownership with other evidence, and what are the evidence?

Daniel Michael Luisi
Daniel Michael Luisi
answered on Dec 12, 2022

If you have drafts of the story which precede the drafts in the possession of whoever you are alleging claimed authorship. And you can lay a foundation for the authenticity of this evidence regarding the date it was created, then yes, possibly. Copyright in a work vests from the moment the work was... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Business Formation, Business Law and Copyright for New York on
Q: If I sell bootleg ebooks on platforms like Etsy and Amazon that I have no legal rights of doing so,will I be facing any

If I sell bootleg ebooks on platforms like Etsy and Amazon that I have no legal rights of doing so,will I be facing any criminal charges from the government?

State NY

Daniel Michael Luisi
Daniel Michael Luisi
answered on Nov 29, 2022

You will likely be subject to a copyright infringement and/or counterfeit account ban and because you seem to have no licensing documents from the rights owners. Because you are apparently doing this knowingly, you will likely be permanently banned from these platforms without much of a chance of a... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Copyright and Trademark for New York on
Q: As a life coach I'd like to include a link to a published song I'd send my client post-session for inspiration.

Am I infringing on copyright permission/issues?

Gregory J. Tarone
Gregory J. Tarone
answered on Nov 9, 2022

This question is for a trademark and copyright lawyer, as they are specially qualified and licensed to opine on it. However, generally speaking from my experience, if the use is not for profit or to promote you or your business, but rather, educational as a reference for your student, it does not... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Copyright and Trademark for New York on
Q: How do I get in contact with owner for permission to use a design?
Benjamin Charles Korray
Benjamin Charles Korray
answered on Nov 4, 2022

If the design is a registered copyright, you may be able to find contact info within the US Copyright Office. If the design is a registered trademark, you may be able to find contact info within the US Patent and Trademark Office. If there's not any registration for the design you would need... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Copyright and Trademark for New York on
Q: I’m an artist and custom paint on designer goods and resell them with my art work, is that trademark infringement?

Hello, I’m an independent artist and recently had my business page on Facebook shut down by Cartier for trademark infringement. I purchased a leather card holder from them, painted a design on it and sold it with my artwork. My sales post stated it was custom painted as well as on my website. My... View More

Erik Špila
Erik Špila
answered on Sep 8, 2022

Dear Mrs or Mr,

in my opinion you have assessed your case good and from information you have provided it seems like the exhaustion of trademark rights should apply in this case and therefore no trademark infringement shall be involved. However to answer you with more certainty, I would need...
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1 Answer | Asked in Copyright for New York on
Q: I am creating a tv show blog, may I upload trailers of the show and take pictures of it and post them on my blog?
Giselle Ayala Mateus
Giselle Ayala Mateus
answered on Aug 29, 2022

As long as you are uploading materials that are entirely yours, this means, that all pictures, sounds, and recordings are your creation, then, you should be fine. However, if any of those materials are protected by copyright and owned by someone else, it could be copyright infringement.

1 Answer | Asked in Copyright for New York on
Q: I want to write a book using the show "Brain Games." Do I need the show's permission, even if the show is on YouTube?
Giselle Ayala Mateus
Giselle Ayala Mateus
answered on Aug 29, 2022

It is unclear what you mean "using" the show. If you are doing a critique about the show or commenting about it, this could be considered fair use, and you would be free to write the book without doing much legal diligence. On the other hand, fair use requires more information and... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Business Formation, Business Law, Internet Law, Copyright and Trademark for New York on
Q: I have a DBA in NYC (advertising, marketing agency), and want to sell one of our services from a website for just that

Am I protected from having my new site's logo/idea/branding infringed upon?

The new name will be listed as a project of mine/my DBA on both websites.

Samuil Buschkin
Samuil Buschkin pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Aug 1, 2022

A d/b/a (doing business as) is simply an alternative trade name for a business. Different states have registration requirements for DBA's. A trademark protection or copyright protection are an entirely different issue. There is a process underlying the registration of a trademark or a... View More

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3 Answers | Asked in Copyright, Intellectual Property and Trademark for New York on
Q: Hello,What are all the legal Intellectual property suggestions to take so I can protect the name, logo, brand, etc.?

How do I create a lawsuit in the event of an infringement?

Kevin E. Flynn
PREMIUM
Kevin E. Flynn
answered on Jun 21, 2022

I do not see a patent issue here. Your list of legal topics did not include trademarks which is most likely the form of intellectual property that you should consider. For purposes of providing an introduction to vocabulary and not as a source of legal advice -- you could start with... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Copyright and Trademark for New York on
Q: Hello Lawyers. I have a question. Can someone copyright something if it looks like it a little?

Hello. I had some custom skins for planes made for my flight simulator. Half of the plane is black with a red outline at the end. Turns out a "company" that runs a virtual airline that has a copyright on their paint design in the flight simulator has kind of the same design, half of the... View More

Fritz-Howard Raymond Clapp
Fritz-Howard Raymond Clapp
answered on Jun 18, 2022

The takedown was probably an assertion of trademark infringement, not copyright. (A tutorial on the difference is something you could get in a free consultation with an IP lawyer.)

If a prior user (owner) of a trademark (which could be a design of/on the goods) finds a confusingly similar...
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