It is one thing to base your work off the original work that has entered the public domain and it is quite another if you are using someone else's...

To what extent will a trademark help me when breaking into new markets with similar products and names

As noted above, you do need to do more research, but one possibility for protecting in advance a mark you would like to use sometime in the future,...

If a company uses a photo of me and my children in ads without our permission can I sue

I think your rights are more in "privacy" rather than "publicity," which is usually what celebrities have. Best to consult with counsel. It may...

Can I make items for sale from a photo I took of an old statue or art piece?

The caveats noted above are important with respect to the subject matter of your photographs. However, you in turn should think about how you will...

Regarding copy write laws: Can you use photos from artists like Michelangelo for todays branding? Or just using their artwork in

The original Michelangelo's paintings and sculpture pieces are in the public domain. And if you can get access to the originals and make your own...

Can i sue an ex-boyfriend who decided to not pay for his half of the cell-phone bill?

While your boyfriend may not be liable to the cell phone company because he did not sign a contract with them, nonetheless it sounds like you had...

WE ARE two yrs in to a five year lease and our franchise business is no longer viable. Can we get out of our lease ?

Often the franchise agreement allows the Franchisor to take over the premises. Explore with the franchisor whether they are interested in that...

Help I am being sued for infringement, copy right, and distributing copy's of a workout set.

You should immediately obtain legal counsel. She will be able to explain to you what is the subject of the lawsuit, what defenses you may have and...

Can employees take company information to start their own business?

Hopefully you are posing this question before such an event takes place rather than after the fact. If you do not have an existing agreement with...

What is the legality of referring to fictional characters, groups, and events in songs that I write?

Just because you are not expecting to make any money, does not allow you to avoid the restrictions of the Copyright Act, needless to say the...