What is the best way to find a local lawyer for my case?

I am an attorney in Northampton, MA that handles BitTorrent defense. Feel free to look me up. - Peter Irvine

Can someone sue me if I use them in a joke but don't use there name?

You should be fine. If you used her name, or enough facts that she could be easily identified, and said things that were not true, she could sue...

What is the best course of action to take regarding a mechanical license?

Wouldn't a true friend be happy to compensate you for your creation? If she values your songwriting, she ought to be happy to share in the proceeds...

Do I have a case

First, do you actually have a copyright registration, from the US Copyright Office? If so, that gives you the possibility of recovering statutory...

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Named in a Copyright Troll lawsuit? What are my options? Motion to dismiss?

If you are not subject to jurisdiction in Illinois, then you may be able to get the case against you dismissed. There is a lot of activity in this...

What are best ways of hiring entertainment attoney who helps finding record deals for the artist in Los Angeles and New York?

I would be very skeptical (in the purest sense of the word) about any attorney who offers to shop a demo for a record deal. As my colleague...

Does this qualify as copyright infringement?

If you want to use some short clips of movies in order to comment on them, or provide critical insight, that ought to qualify as a "fair use." It...

Tenant has broken lease with 6 months remaining. Claims copyright infringement of lease as reason.

The copyright status of the lease is totally irrelevant to the tenancy. The tenants theory does not provide grounds to break the lease. As the...

Has the copyright for a 1923 painting expired?

I agree with the first response about checking for a copyright renewal. But there is also an issue of "publication," which is a legal term of art....

You should contact an entertainment attorney to assist you. New York has a Volunteer Lawyers for Artists organization that can provide low cost...