Do I own the material that we create in this class? Do I need my students to sign an agreement that gives me ownership rights?

You need to contact UC's general counsel (or associate general counsel for your campus) and see what they want you to do. Presumably, your...

Can I use a common name like Connect or Independence for my business without running into branding issues with other companies?

You are likely to have legal issues unless you clear trademarks ahead of time, and I can tell you for a fact that a number of companies use Connect...

Will anyone else use the name? How can I make a living as a writer?

Your initials are not protected. Imagine the number of people who happen to have the same first initial -- Steve, Stacy, Sharon, Sam, Stella,...

Is it ok to apply for TM just for the words and not the specific style even though I have been using a specific style?

A standard character drawing is commonly submitted when the mark you wish to register consists solely of words, letters, or numbers. A standard...

Can a trademark owner whose mark has been cancelled oppose an application that he thinks similar?

He can still oppose based on his prior and continuing use of the trademark in commerce. Just because his federal registration was cancelled (for...

What do I need to do to protect the idea and anything else related to my site Animatedbuzz.com?

The idea can't be protected, but the specific content of your site can. Among other things, you can monitor sites with related content to see if...

What establishes "expression" when it comes to copyright infringement?

That's basically a non-issue when you end up in court, as to sue for copyright infringement you already have to have a copyright registration (or a...

Who has the right to give permission to make derivative works?

The copyright holder. Look up the copyright registration, find out who it is, and write a nice letter requesting permission to create a derivative...

People I watch on YouTube are having copyright problems with things that are obviously fair use.

Sorry, it's not going to be nearly that easy. Fair use is going to be determined on a case-by-case basis, and YouTube's takedown policy presumably...

You can, but it would violate a number of laws if you were to do so, including the Lanham Act (15 USC 1125(a)), California's common law right of...