Hackers asking for Ransom

"they are blackmailing us by providing the same material for FREE." That's not blackmail, that is perhaps copyright infringement. Don't let emotion...

If a photographer is using pictures of my minor child on social networks without parental consent..is there anything I can do.

You need to file a DMCA take down notice with the website. You would be smart to use an Illinois-licensed attorney to do this since you are in SWC...

Sure you can, but that is sometimes not smart. Combining businesses means that the assets of one business can be subject to the liabilities of the...

I would like to be a non-resident unclamied property finder for California. Is it legal to contact California residents?

Be careful. This may subject you to jurisdiction in California. Expect to get sued in California if you do this and to have that enforced against...

Can someone legally start an lottery messenger service in Illinois?

NO, that's selling and you are not authorized. Saying you are not selling doesn't mean you are not selling. In fact, you are selling at a premium...

Bottom line questioner, get an attorney and get one soon. Anything else is bad business for you.

I resigned from a large multinational corporation 7 years ago, but they are still using my name in advertisements.

A letter to the legal department and president of the company should get this rectified. If you have previously notified the branch manager, be...

I got a call from my university's IT saying they had been contacted by a company claiming I received copyrighted material.

The case is likely sufficient for the school to discipline you and to release your name to the attorney that notified the university. If you ignore...

I was married to a famous man, there is a movie that is in the process and they are using his likeness. If they use my likeness

Generally not unless there is more to it than that. Privacy rights are inversely proportional to celebrity and fame, the more famous and public you...

Buying software from an educational institution under a GPL

Likely, the University is taking the position that the software is NOT under GPL and NO, the University is unlikely to be required by law to offer...