I am making a film and many of the sets are girls bedrooms. Can I use photos from magazines as long as they are collages?

Films in girl's bedrooms? Hmmm. That raises lots of red flags to me. What sort of films, child porn? You can use copyrighted material as...

e-Cigarette resale will involve many regulatory and licensing issues. You seems to understand one, how to verify your buyers are of lawful age....

Want to operate business in NY the name I want to use is being used online but not registered in state can I still use it

An online prior user of the same business name can generally stop a later adopter of the same name. Rights are based primarily on use, and the...

I hand-crafted 5 miniature woodpiles, each containing a loose interpretation of the emblem of all five uniformed services

Your question is not a question, but rather just a statement. I suppose the question is do you need permission. Yes, there are laws against use of...

I'm writing a book and want to use some photos of people whose properties I am researching. Do I need a photo release fr them?

You should get a written release to keep the posers honest and forestall any later change of mind by them. People, even rich property owners, tend...

Does selling your photographs (in canvas print or frame) consider you're selling your photos for commercial use?

You question is rather garbled, but as I understand it, you listed your photos "exclusively" on a stock photo website that has, as one of of its...

I recently visited a website and my photo is front page.. I worked there 5+ years ago, but didnt ask to use my face for adv.. ??

You likely have a claim, but there are lots IFs to that. IF an employee you did not authorize the picture and its use. IF, you have the funds too...

Trademark search and common law

The Federal database is not enough for even a minimal clearance search.You also need common law to seek out unregistered uses. Plus you need to...

I hold the original Trademark for an entity, now someone with a similar mark has come along requesting co-existence from me.

If you are the prior user, you do not have to consent. Normally I refuse unless there is some major compensation from the one requesting this....

Can i recreate a college team's logo as a piece of art and sell it while referencing the school? (Michigan "M" for example)

No, you cannot legally do either without permission of the University of Michigan. Both are attempts to control and sell the reputation of the U of...