Is it illegal to answer questions found in or on publicly owned documents or websites, or from copyrighted material?

Sounds like a service and many contractors provide services to municipalities. However, you wonder if the bot will copy so much of the material,...

Can I trademark a statement if someone else in my industry used it in the past for a different product?

If it is a completely different product then you are free to use the tag line. However, if completely different is your opinion then you are...

Does the code 260 show that there is distinction between commerical use as the only type they require registration for?

Reference to "commercial use" suggests a Trademark issue. Trademarks are purposed to reduce consumer confusion as to the source of goods/services....

Could this be a discrimination lawsuit?

see litigation counsel re: anti-discrimination law violations.

Another business with same name and same goods/services means they have common law rights and, if registered, then nationwide rights and your later...

Short phrases are not generally protected by copyright. However, a specific verse may have such artistic expression that it may be a copyright...

Can you patent or copyright a website idea?

The business website is a work of authorship and is a copyright property. The Copyright protects only that specific work and not the idea. A...

Possible personal injury case or waste of time?

The label issue does not make this an IP question. See Personal Injury Counsel.

Is it okay to ask someone you work with for information regarding an illegal business practice?

switch your inquiry to criminal. However, IP Counsel may also answer.

How to patent an idea which is an improvement over an existing patent?

Patents do not protect ideas but only the structure that allows something to be done, to happen. If a person of ordinary skill in the art of your...