My employer never asked to take my photo and use it for advertising posters posted all over our dealerships

I'm not at all sure that under Michigan law your employer has done anything wrong. The relevant body of law is Michigan's "right of publicity" law...

Can you get in trouble for things your employer is requesting you do?

Attorney Ivey is closest to what, I think, is the answer. So long as a computer programming team does not have "access" to the souce code of...

Can I design a shirt that represents Mickey's head but is totally my own design (no copy/paste,etc)?

I don't think you understand what "design" means. It means to decide upon and then create the visual appearance of a thing. You're not deciding...

Can I register a trademark if someone else claims they have it, but all research says they do not?

A person owns trademark rights whenever they're the first to use a protectable mark in commerce. The registration of those rights is voluntary,...

My picture was taken and posted on the news under the subject of abortions!

Yes, of course, it's legal. The photograph was taken while you were in a public place, you are not the only person shown, the article does not...

As my colleagues note, yes, it's generally lawful to incorporate another's product [even a branded product] into another product and then sell the...

I need permission to use a trademark. How complicated is this task?

Acquiring a "license" to do what you have the right to do without the license is unwise. Because the "license" cannot transfer to you any more...

Copying and then altering a still photograph from a movie for personal, in-home use is not copyright infringement. The public display or...

Copyright laws: Does my client own the rights to my design?

I agree with Attorney Natoli. You likely own the copyrights in the works but have transferred to your clients a license to them to use those works...

Graphic Designer hired hourly to create products for a start up business in Las Vegas, Nevada

No physical products were, or could be, saved on your "personnel hard drive." Drawings of physical products and software that a 3D printer could...