Is there a way to protect my startup web app concept when working with employees/contractors?

With each of them you need a confidentiality and non-competition agreement of proper scope under your state law. Most states have rules spelling...

Can you invoke laches if you demonstrated good faith to obtain rights the correct way, were ignored, and are later sued?

NO, that will be a loser argument unless the amateur producer fails to register his beats and fails to take action for more than 3 years after...

So you are an employee and you want to use the work you create for your employer in your personal portfolio. There are a number of lawyers who...

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Do I have a legal right to ask someone doing business under the same business name, in the same geographic area, same service.

Well Santa Monica, you now pay the lawyer and pay much more than you would had you lawyered-up originally. A lawyer would have known to get you a...

What kind of clearance do I need to sing (not sample) the words (the hook) of another song to my original work?

So you are proposing a derivative work based on another works main lyrical stanza and using the music from that work. You need a license from the...

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What is the needed depth/specificity of a provisional patent application?

It is extremely hard to invalidate a provisional patent application. We would have to show it did not have a disclosure, drawings, a cover from and...

Can I use a word that's trademarked in my company name?

That is problematic as you propose to incorporate the entire trademark into your phrase and the only difference is a generic term "yoga". You did...

Does a author have to get your written permission to include unknown public facts about you?

See a Missouri licensed lawyer. There are possible violations of right of privacy and right of publicity. If these are pictures you took there may...

Someone takes trademark idea you told them uses and then sues you for infringement because yours is similar. (please see below)

You asked this once already. Expect a different answer this time? Only if this was an agreed trade secret or there was some contract.

very risky.needs clearance of IP rights by attorney. Patent, TM,SM, copyright, trade secrecy, all risks unless cleared."