Recorded music started with "piano rolls" and progressed through "records" to digital media and now streaming from music recorded on servers. ...

From your description it sounds like there may be substantial similarity, a copyright problem. Your reference to a "trademark style" is unclear...

By definition, if it's public it's not secret. You might want to carefully study all the terms of the NDA. While the name is "non-disclosure" and...

You will be unlikely to get a "clearance" for that on a public board like Avvo. You're balancing two fact intensive sides -- you can resell...

There can't be a contingency because there are no money damages to be recovered if you win. If the mark has value to you, retain a lawyer.

Q: Will I get sued? A: Only if they see your products. And you should assume they have 'bots looking for counterfeits 24/7 , routinely file...

There is no "5 second rule." In court, whether you can establish the affirmative defense of fair use will depend on weighing all four fair use...

Maybe, but you may need and want to accurately identify who really roasted the coffee and you'll need to comply with food labelling laws. Why...

Literally your facts might fit the affirmative defense of "fair use" but whether the defense is provable will depend on all the actual facts, not...

Looks like you have one point going in a correct direction and the other not. Common or descriptive words are weak in trademarks when likelihood...