Could familiar objects (ie: puzzle pieces) used to practise concepts in student workbooks become a copyright issue?

Your description indicates (but you don't expressly say) that your work was independently created. If so there should not be infringement. Keep...

You should register your copyright. If there is infringement and if you register within three months of your publication you can collect statutory...

Can I paint a toy car to have a design similar to a sneaker and then sell it? Like paint the body of it?

If you mean "similar design as a well known sneaker" it sounds like there could be some risk. If it were a generic sneaker -- no identifiable...

Can I 3D print something with the Nike swoosh on a bowl or something and then sell it online? What if I alter the swoosh?

Using someone else's trademark would probably bring unwanted attention. The Nike swoosh, in particular, is one that is often enforced. Alteration...

If content is wholly original, there shouldn't be copyright issues. In theory, props or background could raise issues, if there were something...

Chances are that emojis and most smiley faces are copyrighted. Maybe not the first smiley face because they were published without copyright...

A public forum is not the place to have those facts evaluated and an opinion published. Get a confidential opinion from an attorney.

Should I Respond To An Email From My Strategic Partners' IP Attorney Re NDA?

With all the variables that may be present under you detailed narrative you should have a lawyer review the NDA terms and all the other facts and...

The answer to your question may be yes, but your narrative indicates you might be mixing several different things. Are you in state or Federal...

Prior art comprises A, B, and C. my invention comprises A and B only but different method

Undoubtedly there's more than just A, B, C and containers. Analyzing the teaching in the prior art requires reading the entire documents. The...