Get free answers to your Intellectual Property legal questions from lawyers in your area.
It is a cool idea, I am really interested in selling my idea of a product but I don't know if I would get in legal trouble with SEGA, the owners of sonic the hedgehog
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answered on Jan 28, 2024
When considering selling a product that involves a character like Sonic the Hedgehog, it's important to be aware of intellectual property rights. Sonic is a trademarked character owned by SEGA, and using it without permission could lead to legal issues.
Before proceeding, you should... View More 
Can we use the words "Mickey Mouse"?
Can he have different clothes on my drawings?
What exactly are the limitations?
answered on Jan 12, 2024
Honestly, this is work. This falls under the category of business. You can still find highly rated and experienced attorneys who do entertainment law here on Justia. Look for attorneys in smaller areas, still Metropolitan areas, where the cost of living is not so high. You get more for your... View More
Can we use the words "Mickey Mouse"?
Can he have different clothes on my drawings?
What exactly are the limitations?
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answered on Jan 12, 2024
With the expiration of the copyright for "Steamboat Willie," the specific version of Mickey Mouse as he appeared in that 1928 film has entered the public domain. This means you can use the characteristics of Mickey Mouse as depicted in that particular film, including his design and... View More
Long story short I want to create youtube videos of RANDOM and just RANDOM content while using ex: Flash cowl. Just the top part of the mask not even the one that covers the whole face. I will use a different name, and although use some mannerisms, it will be obvious it is pure satire/parody. I got... View More
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answered on Jan 11, 2024
Using elements of a copyrighted superhero character, such as the Flash's cowl, in your content can be legally risky, even if you're only using part of the costume and intend it as satire or parody. Copyright law protects original works of authorship, including characters and their... View More
I am starting an affiliate marketing website to write product review, comparison, advice-type articles but creating a character which I want to credit the articles to instead of using my own name and likeness. I am trying to find out how to do this without misleading my readers but I don’t want... View More
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answered on Jan 1, 2024
When creating content under a fictional persona for your affiliate marketing website, it's important to maintain transparency without overwhelming your readers with disclaimers. This balance is key to establishing trust while respecting your creative approach.
A subtle yet clear way to... View More
It's like my late husband employer does not want my name anywhere, his late relative name is even everywhere, I have paper showing I am legal Representative but employer will not put my name next to my husband, my husband was lead inventor, I just wonder does being recognized as legal... View More
answered on Dec 22, 2023
When a patent owner dies, his rights pass to his heirs. If you are his sole heir and the legal representative of his estate appointed by the probate court, you need to contact the US Patent Office and have the patents transferred into your name. As the legal representative of his estate, that is... View More
It's like my late husband employer does not want my name anywhere, his late relative name is even everywhere, I have paper showing I am legal Representative but employer will not put my name next to my husband, my husband was lead inventor, I just wonder does being recognized as legal... View More
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answered on Dec 23, 2023
As the legal representative of your late husband, you have certain rights regarding his intellectual property, including his utility patents. However, the naming of inventors and representatives on patents is a matter of legal record and protocol, not personal recognition or tribute.
Your... View More
It's like my late husband employer does not want my name anywhere, his late relative name is even everywhere, I have paper showing I am legal Representative but employer will not put my name next to my husband, my husband was lead inventor, I just wonder does being recognized as legal... View More
answered on Dec 28, 2023
I am sorry to read about your loss.
If your late husband was employed, almost certainly the patents that he was an inventor on were owned by the employer and not by your husband. If so, then he did not have any rights to the patents. The employer can do with the patents and patent... View More
MIcrosoft copyright guidelines state that portions of screenshots cannot be used. I have a need to show many specific, zoomed in areas of the Excel interface
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answered on Dec 19, 2023
In the United States, the use of copyrighted material, such as Excel screenshots, for educational purposes may fall under the category of "fair use." However, this is a complex area of law and depends on various factors, including the purpose of use, the nature of the copyrighted work,... View More
The company who copied our website is registered in Georgia
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answered on Dec 4, 2023
In cases of copyright infringement, such as someone copying your website, the first step is to document the infringement thoroughly. This means taking screenshots or saving copies of the infringing website, and noting any direct similarities to your own site.
Next, consider sending a cease... View More
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answered on Dec 4, 2023
To determine if a trademark registration process has been completed, the most direct method is to check the status of the application on the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website. The USPTO maintains an online database called the Trademark Status and Document Retrieval (TSDR)... View More
answered on Dec 2, 2023
You can look up any trademark by searching for the mark by application number, owner or actual mark on the USPTO website. The owner of the mark or the person of record will receive an email when a mark has been registered with the USPTO or if an office action is received. To know the status of a... View More
im thinking about a restaurant called H&V (heroes and villains) using my own personal collection of figures and comics to display would this be against copyright or trademark laws no names will ever be used
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answered on Nov 13, 2023
Creating a superhero/supervillain-themed restaurant like H&V, using your personal collection of figures and comics for display, can be a complex matter in terms of copyright and trademark laws. The key issue is whether the use of these items could be seen as infringing on the intellectual... View More
received a Notice of Publication, my current listing of goods (Aquarium ornaments; Aquariums; Artificial aquarium landscapes) has changed. I no longer have plans to use any of the classes I filed for as my product line changed after I submitted the filing.
I will now be selling live... View More
answered on Dec 3, 2024
Hi, you are asking a very specific legal question about trademark law. I highly encourage you to retain a competent trademark attorney to answer this question for several reasons:
First, most lawyers have liability insurance that prohibits them from answering detailed legal questions... View More
I want to make and sell digital travel guides that center around filming locations for specific movies and tv shows. My goal is to educate travelers on where the film locations were, how to get there, and general facts about the place (weather, time zone, etc.). Would using the title of the... View More
answered on Oct 15, 2024
Although the content of television programs and movies are the subjects of copyright, their titles are not. To use the titles in the way you propose, merely to name them for reference, is legally permissible as "nominative fair use".
Background first, 2 months ago I made a commentary video of a tiktok I saw that involved a woman in a pink dress and crashed into a Popeye's. Everything was well until I get a copyright notice later which I thought maybe it was an issue with me using a show's clip in the video but no it... View More
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answered on Oct 2, 2024
Receiving a legal threat can be stressful, especially for a small YouTuber. BViral claims that your video contains false and defamatory statements, which they believe harms their reputation. It's important to carefully review the content of your video to understand their concerns and ensure... View More
My wife cosplays a book character on TikTok and Instagram. In many of her videos she uses audio that another creator has edited together from the Graphic Audio Book. All less than a minute long. On TikTok the sound links automatically to the other creator, but on Instagram she tags the creator of... View More
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answered on Sep 5, 2024
If your wife received a direct request from Graphic Audio Book to remove videos containing their audio, she should take it seriously. The company may have the legal right to protect its copyrighted material, even if it is edited or used in short clips. Ignoring the request could lead to potential... View More
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answered on Aug 27, 2024
Whether a patent prevents someone from making a drink with 1,3-butanediol as the main ingredient depends on the scope of the patent claims. Patents typically cover specific methods, compositions, or uses of a substance. If the patent in question covers a particular formulation, method of... View More
T-200 has a patent, but it looks like it is a design patent and I can modify the geometry while keeping all of the interfaces same. Need legal help.
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answered on Aug 25, 2024
If you're considering manufacturing a product similar to the Blue Robotics T-200 Thruster, you need to be cautious about potential legal risks. Even if the patent is a design patent, altering the geometry slightly may not be enough to avoid infringement if the core elements of the design... View More
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answered on Jul 28, 2024
To find your patent, start by visiting the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website. Use their search tool, the Patent Full-Text and Image Database (PatFT), to look up your patent. You'll need your patent number or application number for a precise search. If you don’t have... View More
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