If I bought a companies inventory changed the business name, created a DBA under my name can I be sued if the former owner is?

Sued for what? You didn't say. It is not uncommon to employ the former owner of a business. If that person is not an owner then you have no...

I’m having trouble understanding what is covered by copyright laws and what isn’t?

So you are going to be responsible for what you sell. If it turns out that your Chinese supplier was infringing on another's designs (copyright) or...

As noted, merely referring to Taco Bell in your song is not a problem. Only when you present a false association with them would it be an...

I am starting a pottery business and wanted to know if I free hand draw a college logo on my pottery pieces is it against law

It would be a trademark infringement because these universities did not endorse your products. If you need clarification, I suggest that you...

If they came with brands emended into them then you have to assume they came with trademark rights. You need to get the permission of that owner to...

If someone infringes on another party's copyright, who legally owns the infringing material?

It depends on the context. In some cases, there can be claims to seize it or in the case of online content like on YT that can be monetized in...

No one can claim ownership of general concepts or business ideas. They can of course claim creative expression, branding / trademark and qualified...

Is a parody afforded its own copyright protection?

If this is a true parody then it is not infringing and you can always claim any original works of authorship where there is a modicum of creative...

The name House of Wax for a salon that offers body waxing services might be seen as merely descriptive, which can be a problem, but this is more of...

Can a photographer take a picture of another photographer's work and display it on their website and profit from it?

Was this picture just in the background and merely incidental to their photo, or was this more of a deliberate copying of your photo? Of course,...