Patents -- Who Can Apply?

Q1: Can a non- U.S. citizen file for a provisional patent application in propria persona?

Q2: Can a non- U.S. citizen file for a non- provisional patent application in propria persona?

Nondisclosure / Website Ideas

I'm currently working on a commercial website for profit, and have yet to hire programmers and coders to construct the actual website. The concept, designs, and related aspects to the website have been created and documented so far.

I'm very worried about someone stealing my idea when the time comes to discuss my project with potential programmers and coders. If funding was no issue, I would immediately write up a nondisclosure agreement with an attorney. Since funding is limited, I'm wondering what my options are at this moment to protect myself and my project? And more importantly, how much good will a nondisclosure agreement have in the state of California for a website?

By the way, I do understand that once my website is up and running, anyone, anywhere, can steal the concept. This is an issue beyond my control, and if it happens, the competitors will be lagging as I steadily build up a large user base and name for my website.

What should I do if I received an email like this?

I received an email from this company, please see below. What should I do, it is safe to write an apologize email back to them or should I hire a lawyer?

'' write on behalf of Company ABC, the owner to the rights to �some product� We have recently learned that you are selling unauthorized copies of ''some products� via eBay under your seller name ''dr.jockey.'' Your actions in this regard constitute, at a minimum, copyright infringement under applicable U.S. copyright law. We must request that you immediately cease all duplication and sales of these items. We further demand that you provide this office with a statement of sales illustrating all total number of infringing item sold, revenue earned and any remaining inventory. Should we learn that you continue to violate CBS�s rights on eBay, any other website or otherwise, we will take all appropriate action to protect CBS�s rights without further notice to you. In addition, your actions will be deemed willful infringement entitling CBS to additional punitive damages.

We trust that you will confirm of your intention to comply with these demand and the information requested herein within 10 days of your receipt this letter''

Agreement between Musician and Online Vendor

Hi,

I am wondering what kind of legal form I need to use as an agreement between myself and musicians whose work I accept to license via my website?

I am building a website where I will sell music with a special ''sync'' license to photographers and videographers so they can use the music on their websites, slideshows, videos, etc...

I want to find a free form or one I can buy, and slightly modify it to use an a non exclusive agreement between the musicians whose work I accept and myself.

Thanks!

Photocopying Foreign Money in the USA

Is it illegal to photocopy foreign paper money in the United States for use in an art project? This would be for decorative purposes only. I have heard that you can only photocopy US money if you supersize it. What if it foreign currencly, is only single sided, and/or on colored paper?

Use of my name without permission - false attribution of credit

There is no written agreement, but from the beginning the producer agreed to use a pseudonym instead of my real name on the credits for a script I was contributing to. They eventually used enough of my material to make a little over 50% of the script. However, they not only changed the material so much that I do not wish to have anything more to do with it, but the producer now insists on using my real name. If any material is still close enough to my original work, I do not grant him permission to use my name, however, none of it seems to my material anymore, but the producer in question is still determined to use my name in the credits. What I want is to have my name removed from the credits. Use of a pseudonym would be acceptable to me. Also, there are at least two other people in the industry (SAG and WGA) that have the same name as I do. This is an independent production. He also has a copy of my latest book, and wants to use it for the basis of a future film. I want that copy destroyed and any permission I gave verbally to be rescinded. If he agrees to the use of a pseudonym in any and all credits, I would be willing to resume writing for that project. I am hoping that a letter from an attorney would convince him to comply.

Collaborative story writing

Id like to start a collaborative story writing blog/website. Users will be able to log in and add to a story. My question is, if the blog ends up making money through advertising or if the story is published, do the contributors have a right to compensation?

Am I being Sue?

Hi,

I received an email which I pasted below from attorney office. Please advise if they are sueing me are they just want to scare me?

'' write on behalf of Company ABC, the owner to the rights to �some product� We have recently learned that you are selling unauthorized copies of ''some products� via eBay under your seller name ''dr.jockey.'' Your actions in this regard constitute, at a minimum, copyright infringement under applicable U.S. copyright law. We must request that you immediately cease all duplication and sales of these items. We further demand that you provide this office with a statement of sales illustrating all total number of infringing item sold, revenue earned and any remaining inventory. Should we learn that you continue to violate CBS�s rights on eBay, any other website or otherwise, we will take all appropriate action to protect CBS�s rights without further notice to you. In addition, your actions will be deemed willful infringement entitling CBS to additional punitive damages.

We trust that you will confirm of your intention to comply with these demand and the information requested herein within 10 days of your receipt this letter''

Photos and Rights

Hello,

my sister once worked for a store that sells ''adult'' paraphenalia - movies, clothing, toys, etc. While she was working there, she allowed the owner to photgraph her in some of the clothes to use for advertising, but never signed anything giving him the right to use her photo, no contract and was never paid. Her photo ran a few times while she was working there.

Several years have passed, and she has since gotten a job with a reputable beverage company doing customer service. She stumbled upon a current advertisement by her former employer, and he is still using her photograph in his ads. Does she have any recourse to have him cease the use of her photo, and/or is she entitled to sue? Who does the image belong to?

Copyright & Permissions

I am writing a college text which involves hundreds of sources-- research & data, articles, books.

Is this fair use for education?

Is it necessary to obtain permissions or are citings in footnotes and bibliography adequate?

Federal Trademark Registration Issue

I registered a business in the state of CT ''IT Integrity, LLC'' 3-4 years ago and registered ''ITIntegrity dot com'' as a domain name. Recently someone in FL applied for and was granted a ''Federal Trademark'' for ''IT Integrity'' (Reg #3221865). I was using the name ''IT Integrity'' before they filed. I received a ''Cease and Desist Notification'' letter form a person, not an attorney, claiming I was am in violation of their trademark and must immediately stop using the domain name and transfer it to them. What course of action should I take, if any? Is it too late to contest the federal trademark?

Thanks

Jeff

Use of 30 seconds or less of Copyrighted Music for Internet Videos

I have a website that features videos that I produce. What I'd like to do is use 30 seconds or less of a copyrighted song as either a lead in or a fade out. Does this fall within Fair Use ?

hello!

My name is--name removed--and what I wanted to know is ebay dot com is a business we will be protesting and boycotting, I dont wish to infringe on their logos ect..and trademarks. like can I make t shirts saying feebay is the 1 color scheme or is that infringment? thank you!

Use of a previously Paid-for Music Recording

Can a cease and Desist letter be issued over email?

movie royalties

I am in the process of starting a

restaurant and as part of its decor,

am thinking of running an old movie

on one of the walls - actually it's to

be projected at an angle, so it

displays partly on the ceiling and

partly on the wall. The movie is not

for viewing as much as it is for

atmostphere. I have tried to look for

the licensing agent that is

responsible for handling royalties for

such public displays but have been

unsuccessful. Until I find the proper

channel to pay the movie rights,

would it be alright initially go ahead

with my decor plan and play the

movie/s?

Trademark/ Intellectual Property

I am going to develop a new branded food product that will be contract packed by a third party and need to learn what contacts will be required to protect my idea from being pirated.

Pictures taken at a museum

I've recently visited the Madam Tussaud Museum at NYC. The Museum stated that photos are allowed. Being a professional photographer, I took some, and the results are some very artist and beautiful fine art photos. So much so I would like to include them on my website ans sell some prints. I am wondering if this is fine with the law, or not?

Representing myself in a civil suit?

Getting to the point: I downloaded contact information from my prior company�s website that included addresses and other public information. I offered to sell it to a competitor. No money was exchanged. I was online and arrested all in the same day. charged with one felony and one misdemeanor (trade secrets). Criminal case was dropped due to apparent inactivity on the side of the DA. Paid a great lawyer 10k to get me through the pre-trial. Now, a civil suit is against me.

I was recently sent a 1st set of interrogatories, request for documents, and a notice for deposition. My lawyer wants to charge me another few thousand to take me through this initial deposition and respond to all of their requests. He seems to think that this lawyer is simply trying to get money out of their client and bill them for all they are doing. I am considering representing myself or getting a court-appointed lawyer, if I am able to. Do you think this is a bad idea? If so, why? I assume they want to go after me for money this time around and if so, I have no property or wages they can attach currently. Can they get money from me in the distant future? (ie: ask me to pay all legal fees? Thanks so much for any help you can give me

artist release form

I had an artist do a concept drawing for a character I am developing for a animated video. I need him to sign a release form for that character so he can't come back and demand money. What kind of form do I need?

Ownership issues

auto co-owned. Can one owner

stop second owner from loaning

auto to outside party.