Get free answers to your Intellectual Property legal questions from lawyers in your area.
I recieved the survey showing all 8 lots. But recently I discovered the the county auditor shows we do not own the 2 lots in the middle of our back yard. I checked the deed and they are not on the deed but they show on the survey. There is no way for the person it says owns them to access them what... View More

answered on May 12, 2020
If your contract was for the purchase all 8 lots, and you paid for all 8, how did 2 get omitted? Was it a mistake in the deed preparation? What did your 2011 purchase contract say? Did you obtain owner's title insurance when you purchased the lots? Are the auditor's records correct?... View More
envelope with all the details inside . Would it hold up as a legal document if the idea was patented by someone else at a later date ?

answered on Mar 3, 2020
No. It will not help. Patents do not protect "ideas" - The only thing that is protected is the "structure" that allows the "idea" to work. The structure is the thing that is protected. What is subject to Patent Protection? it is a new structure that does... View More
This is regarding a litigation I would like to bring to light in Ohio. Its very specifically plagiarism and the plagiarist has even used my penname. There are many specific parts of this that make it very difficult, one being I was a minor aged 13 when I wrote it and the law says I have no right to... View More

answered on Feb 27, 2020
It’s technically infringement because copyright protection begins when you put pen to paper. However, you must prove that you created the work in the first place. That might be tough to do in your predicament. Always a good idea to register your works with the copyright office, and always use an... View More
I'm talking about still (not moving) images, obtained without a license, in a video work that criticizes religious or political developments for the sake of advancing public knowledge, without any profit motive whatsoever, and without any financial gain.

answered on Jan 27, 2020
If you are sued for infringement, fair use would be your defense in court. But the outcome would depend on all the facts and evidence submitted to the court. Sometimes the person with the most money to spend on litigation wins. If the court finds it is an infringement, and not a fair use, it can... View More
Worked for Lennox Industries for 19yrs; this was my final project. Even the events to my termination were questionable; at best, in my estimation.

answered on Sep 28, 2019
Congratulations on being an inventor on a US patent. You can download a PDF of the patent at https://patents.google.com/patent/US10337727B2/en?oq=10337727 and then print the patent out.
If you want the patent on some thicker stock, you can buy one from the USPTO for $3. I have not done... View More
I have a lease from scammer I’ve paid 1000 deposit and 850 first months rent what are my rights can they really make me leave like that

answered on Aug 30, 2019
If the police don't force you out, the owner could file criminal trespass charges against you, and also file an eviction against you. Try to work it out so that an eviction and charges are not filed against you, since those are permanent public records, and can make it difficult for you to... View More

answered on Jul 23, 2019
You can file trademarks at two levels - the state level and the federal level.
The federal level generally provides the stronger trademark, and you file with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Given that you're software, you'll probably want to file in international... View More

answered on Jul 16, 2019
If you use images of Waldo and other recognizable features of the books, then yes, it would infringe the copyright. Getting permission might be difficult to track down the owner. The book publisher might have the rights, or the author might have retained them. Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain... View More
For example, a site to where a User can search a specific section of a cemetery/gravesite or the entire cemetery as a whole and looks for certain groups, people of interest and whatnot?

answered on May 10, 2019
I'm not aware of any such patent and a cursory search of the available databases don't turn up any such patents. (though there was an interesting one which incorporated video into a gravestone!) However, this doesn't tell us if one exists either in the US or in other jurisdictions.... View More
Not money or a phone. Googled it and value is around $300

answered on Apr 18, 2019
In Ohio, so long as you cannot reasonably find the owner of said property AND you did not find it on a private road, it sounds like you'll be ok. This sounds like lost property under Ohio law. You're going to be obligated to make a good faith effort to find the true owner. Easiest way... View More

answered on Apr 18, 2019
A trademark can be registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office, with any of the states, or with foreign countries. You can easily check the databases of any of those to find out if it has been registered. But there is no requirement to register a trademark. Many famous trademarks have not... View More

answered on Apr 10, 2018
It isn't against a law. But the custodial parent might have a civil claim for invasion of privacy or unauthorized use of the child's name or likeness without permission. So the author is risking a lawsuit and should use the Find a Lawyer tab to consult a local attorney, or use a... View More
I have researched benefits of specific vegetables and fruits and started using them in animal feed production with great results in animal health and performance. No other feed company includes these ingredients in their feed. Can I patent this to prevent competitors from duplicating my feed /... View More

answered on Mar 31, 2018
Starting in March of 2013, the rules for what could be patented changed. See https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/35/102
The relevant text is
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless—
(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or... View More
Others are using the name and music of my late step father without my permission. What can I do?

answered on Mar 29, 2018
I suggest that you discuss the matter with an attorney with expertise in intellectual property law. She or he can advise you if copyright still subsists in each of the works and what rights, if any, exists in connection with the use of a deceased person's name. If there is good reason to... View More
My brother wasn't listening to me telling him to go upstairs after screaming at my other brother for hours and was being obstinate for 15 minutes about going up the stairs saying I wasn't letting him when I clearly just wanted him to go upstairs and I kicked him in the hip and left a... View More

answered on Mar 23, 2018
Well, you just confessed to domestic violence, a first degree misdemeanor punishable by up 180 days in jail and a fine up to $1,000. So there's that.
ement. I do not have a trademark but it says its still available.

answered on Jan 29, 2018
Use the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local intellectual property or trademark attorney to review all the facts and advise you whether it could be an infringement or not, and what are your options. There are significant penalties for trademark infringement.
The person who took responsibility for registering the SR Copyright on a CD of original music and was supposed to finalize the legal paper work for the entity that was going to "own" the copyrights didn't actually finish the registration of the business entity to own the copyrights.... View More

answered on Jan 17, 2018
Yes, the copyright (i.e. the legal right, not the registration) should still be valid. A copyright registration which includes erroneous information can be corrected. Review the procedures under section 1800 of the copyright office Compendium.
Regarding ownership, a copyright is always... View More
I keep trying to sell a Klipsch headset on eBay. I took the pictures of the product myself, but I keep getting my listing removed, because Klipsch is claiming copyright infringement over my images. They are my own pictures I took myself, and I feel I'm being harassed by Klipsch. Klipsch is... View More

answered on Oct 7, 2017
Try the Electronic Frontier Foundation. They sometimes take cases involving DMCA harassment pro bono.
45 mins. Later husband got off work and rear ended someone and now both insurances refuse to cover. Geico says there was 5 min. Difference in when I started which is not true. When I finished purchasing it said I was covered. When husband called and needed proof of insurance for cop I called geico... View More

answered on Sep 13, 2017
You need to obtain the electronic mail to and from Gieco to determine whether policy was in effect. In addition, your previous insurance company may have continued the policy of insurance for a short period of time after the cancellation for non-payment.
If you cannot obtain the email... View More
She is making shirts and wants my artwork on them. We are combining businesses and it'll be 50/50. It's fair but if this doesn't work out in the long run how do I protect my artwork and business name? Will we both be able to produce the shirts still afterwards? Will she end up with... View More

answered on Aug 22, 2017
You are prudent to seek assistance for your business relationship and protection of your artwork - before you begin. Use the Find a Lawyer tab and contact a local business attorney who can advise you and answer questions about business formation and copyright protection.
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