Hi I have an idea that I would like to patent but I'm really confused on which attorney to go with.

An attorney is a member of the Bar of your state, such as New York. A patent attorney is an attorney who is also licensed by the U.S. Patent and...

Can I adapt a novel a novel to screenplay that I don't own?

To expand upon Attorney Pfabe's excellent discussion of the issue you raise, the issue arises because the owner of the copyright in a work of...

You haven't said what goods or services you plan to associate with your "pen name" as a trademark. Be aware that a trademark registration requires...

What is the procedure for informing businesses that they can license my trademark?

As Attorney Tencza observed, a trademark cannot be licensed unless the licensor provides quality control over the service. Otherwise the trademark...

Can I sue a publisher, who first offers me the copyright that he owned, but next three months avoided to provide the agreement.

This is something you should raise with a business attorney you engage for this purpose. Be sure to tell the attorney whether the publisher is...

What Can I do about stolen story line "concept"/ copyright infringement ?

Although copyright does not protect an idea, it does protect your unique "expression" of the idea. Whether or not the movie improperly...

Whether or not there is trademark infringement is based on a factual finding of the likelihood that customers encountering goods bearing the...

Is there any such thing as common law trade names and trade marks?

Yes, a company can develop rights to a trademark under the common law by using the mark on goods or in connection with its services. A "trade...

What Type of Legal Action Should I Take?

How to respond to the circumstance you describe would depend on the specific facts of your situation. In particular, it would be important to know...

With all the retroactive copyright extensions the feds have given the nod to, are they essentially at fault for the vast amounts

You make a valid point. Another factor is the adoption by the U.S. of the Berne Convention on Copyright in 1989, That treaty makes copyright...