I'm starting a publishing company called First Book Publishing Marketplace in Ohio. A non-profit First Books.org Wash. D.C.

Hi, It matters not whether you operate for profit or not. What matters is how close the names are in relationship to the goods and/or services...

I own a 50% of a restaurant, my partner decided to open another one, do i get any benefit from the new one?

Hi, Well, unless you somehow gave away your interest in the trademark, etc then no he cannot just do that. Whether he can operate a...

Possible violation or IP, trademark, trade dress, etc, laws?

Hi, As my colleagues noted, you have an number of issues here in both copyright as well as trademark. This is probably not the best idea,...

If I want to sell apparel with regional names on it--i.e., Tuscany, Napa, Champagne, etc can I? Can you trademark those items?

Hi, Good question. A lot depends on what you are selling, which will tell the tale of whether any of these would be considered geographically...

Is the logo of the National Soccer Team of any given country in public domain?

Hi, You are most likely asking for a problem because they are being used as trademarks. That said, a trademark in use in say Italy does not...

Intellectual property laws online question. Need your ideas

Hi, While I agree with my collegue, let me offer this much more. You cannot really protect highly descriptive and generic names such as this....

I have done some watercolor illustrations of christan louboutin shoes. Can I print these designs on cards and sell the cards?

Hi, Yes, this is likely a problem on a couple of fronts. While in the US one cannot protect fashion designs thorugh copyright, they may protect...

My car is in spouses name have two small children can he take my car if we had a verbal contract it was mine at time of purchase

Hi, If the car is in his name it is his car. If you put money up for the car then perhaps you have a claim to recoup that amount. But when...

Hi, As you probably gathered, this is not the proper way to do things. It is not necessary to list every member in the public filing documents...

My contractor has hired a lawyer to sue me for breach of contract.

Hi, If the contractor actually provided services to you that went unpaid they are still free to bring an action to recover that. The fact that...