Copyright Questions

Showing 9 of 41 pages

wearing a slogan t shirt on an album cover...?

Posted by: powpowmeow
February 29, 2012 @ 6:20am
http://michiganawesome.myshopify.com/collections/city/products/saginawesome

Not even sure if this slogan is trademarked et al, not sure if it matters...

Is there potential for legal problems wearing a t shirt like this in...
Replies: 0

Using copywritten material in a web commerce demo

Posted by: williamsonl
February 27, 2012 @ 8:28am
I'm not really clear on what you are doing here. Are you using their logos? If so, that falls under trademark law and it could be a problem. Are you using computer images? Couldn't you find free ones to use instead if it's just photos of computers or... Read more...
Replies: 1

Screenshots and linking

Posted by: JanetCroft
February 23, 2012 @ 1:01pm
You never need permission to link. A screenshot is more problematic; I think a Fair Use analysis is your best bet there. If you are just using it as an example and if it's fairly low-res, you're probably safe.
Replies: 1

What do I have to do to make sure it is all legal?

Posted by: JanetCroft
February 20, 2012 @ 12:51pm
That's a trademark question, not a copyright question. But I would think with a car, where it will be nearly constantly on view in public, it would be risky to do this when there are already commercial decals you can buy. If you were altering them in some... Read more...
Replies: 1

United States copy[rite] finally comes of age at supreme Court...

Posted by: CurtisNeeley
February 4, 2012 @ 10:25am
In 1790 Nolan Webster desired that wealthy colonial parents with children would use books written in "colonial" English instead of using textbooks imported from Great Britain as many of the wealthy often were already doing.

Noel Webster... Read more...
Replies: 0

schoolwide license to allow us to post music mash-ups on website

Posted by: williamsonl
January 26, 2012 @ 10:17am
These type of agencies offer performance rights, not distribution or recording. It's possible that these posting might also fall under fair use. Is it a transformative use? Is it a parody? Do you need to post the entire song or would a clip work just as... Read more...
Replies: 1

Copyright rules for movies dvd covers and posters

Posted by: williamsonl
January 26, 2012 @ 10:09am
This should fall under fair use argument easily. The only issue, possibly, might be if you are selling advertisement or somehow making a commercial venture. This is not saying you still couldn't be sued or receive a C&D letter, but that's a matter of risk... Read more...
Replies: 1

One book in two languages

Posted by: drnick
January 18, 2012 @ 8:14am
Hi, folks,

I am writing a book which has two versions: one Chinese version and one English version.

My question is: can I submit them to two different publishers? The Chinese version to a
publisher in China and... Read more...
Replies: 0

Selling Original Michael Jackson Poem/Pic

Posted by: Freya Anderson
January 17, 2012 @ 5:00pm
I think that the main issue with this would be dealing with the right of publicity or personality, rather than copyright. I'm not an expert in those, but my understanding is that they vary from state to state, with some states not offering that right at... Read more...
Replies: 1

DVD duplication

Posted by: williamsonl
January 4, 2012 @ 12:51pm
I don't really see how that would be a good fair use case. That would be like making a copy of a book for two people to use instead of buying a second copy. If I want to read a book someone else has checked out, I have to wait.
You can always try... Read more...
Replies: 2

copy[rite] v copy wrong

Posted by: CurtisNeeley
January 3, 2012 @ 10:52pm
The “Richard Prince” decision will impact little regarding how copy[rite] law is amended to deal with artists asserting individual personal rights today or how the modern world deals morally and ethically with IP-backwards United States’ copy[rite]... Read more...
Replies: 0

Can someone copyright their alteration of art in the public domain ?

Posted by: williamsonl
January 2, 2012 @ 2:16pm
If the changes are such that it transforms the work (and there is no definition of this; it would be a matter of opinion if it ever came to court) then the creator would own copyright for the new work.
Replies: 3

Can a picture of my garden be published w/o my knowledge?

Posted by: williamsonl
January 2, 2012 @ 2:14pm
If the photo is one taken from a photo shoot by a previous magazine, then odds are the magazine owns the rights to the photo and they would need permission to reprint it.
If her garden is visible without coming onto the property then taking a... Read more...
Replies: 1

Copyright of scanned images of public-domain works

Posted by: williamsonl
January 2, 2012 @ 2:11pm
Sorry it took so long to get a reply. This sight will be taken down shortly for maintenance so we are not monitoring it closely right now.
If something is in the public domain, then anyone is free to use it. Scanning it into a database does not... Read more...
Replies: 3

Cartoons on a car

Posted by: williamsonl
January 2, 2012 @ 2:04pm
Cartoons characters are also, possibly, covered by trademark law. Might this be fair use? Possibly. You would need to look at the 4 factors and decide. Disney in particular is infamous for going after even the individual when they perceive a violation. ... Read more...
Replies: 1

technologies patents

Posted by: JanetCroft
December 14, 2011 @ 12:52pm
This site only deals with copyright issues. You'd have better luck taking your question to a site discussing patent issues.
Replies: 1

Cooperate stealing ideas from thier Employees. - Can anything be done?

Posted by: williamsonl
November 28, 2011 @ 9:54am
This is really a legal question pertaining to works for hire. You would need to consult internal policy and contracts for ownership of works created for your job
Replies: 1

Streaming music in the classroom (Pandora, Grooveshark, Spotify)

Posted by: williamsonl
October 24, 2011 @ 1:11pm
My first instinct would be to say that this is likely covered in the license you agree to when you subscribe. I went and looked at Pandora and it says 'private, non-commercial use', a pretty vague term unless you are a bar owner. So it would come down, in... Read more...
Replies: 1

Test translation of a public domain test - who owns the copyright?

Posted by: williamsonl
October 24, 2011 @ 12:48pm
Although it is a derivative of a public domain work, there is likely enough originality to make the translation eligible for copyright. The copyright in a derivative work covers only the additions, changes, or other new material appearing for the first... Read more...
Replies: 1

I created original artwork for several dozen plays and musicals produc

Posted by: williamsonl
October 24, 2011 @ 12:43pm
You didn't ask a question here. Are you asking who owns the posters now? Was there any type of written contract with the theater? Did you receive pay? Are you consider an employee of any type? Basically, it can either be considered a work-for-hire, in... Read more...
Replies: 1

How to find the copyright holder for photos?!

Posted by: williamsonl
October 24, 2011 @ 12:34pm
Janet is right--sometimes it's nearly impossible to determine the copyright owner of a photograph. And Neilma is right--there is no definitive answer. Once you've exhausted all your resources to find out the owner, you will have to make a decision based... Read more...
Replies: 6

Flashcard created from text book

Posted by: williamsonl
October 24, 2011 @ 12:32pm
It really just depends. In general the answer is no, you cannot copy material from a textbook and basically creating a derivative work from it without permission. Are the flashcards limited to students enrolled in a class where the textbook is used? Then... Read more...
Replies: 2

Classroom Ownership

Posted by: JanetCroft
October 24, 2011 @ 12:17pm
It's generally the instructor, unless you specifically signed a contract stating it was a work for hire. Your school should have a copyright policy clearly stating this.
Replies: 1

Thanks Sean.

Posted by: GClement
September 24, 2011 @ 11:56am
Without seeing the exact design of your website, it is hard to know exactly how you plan to reproduce the logos. That said, it sounds like your use of other people's logos could constitute Trademark and Copyright Infringement.

The... Read more...
Replies: 1

Names of the Month

Posted by: JanetCroft
September 19, 2011 @ 12:44pm
The only copyright problem you might have is that these charts will be copyrighted by you, automatically. If you like giving them away free, you might want to clarify this for people who use them by registering them under a Creative Commons license. Just... Read more...
Replies: 1
Showing 9 of 41 pages