Use of team names, league name in a book.

I am an authro and am writing a novel in which the two main characters are hockey players. The teams they play for are fictional (The Tulsa Tornados and the Norfolk Tridents), but I am wanting them to be NHL teams. Is it permissable to use a phrase such as ''The Tornados and the Tridents were the NHL's (or Natiional Hockey League's) two newest franchises? Or reference team names, such as ''The Tornados left the next morning for Detroit to play the Redwings''. Last point, using the name Stanley Cup, for example ''The new franchise made it to the Stanley Cup playoffs in their first season.'' Thank you for your help.

inventions and discoveries

I had a subcontract to develop some software. I am currently working on another version of the software. I believe the previous contract would not be in effect since I had to submit another proposal and due to the fact that it's being completely redone in a different programming platform and language. There was language in the previous contract that said that they would own any ''inventions and discoveries'' I made while working on the previous project. Should I be able to retain copyright on the current version since we haven't actually signed a new contract? They seem to think our original agreement stands. Also, how do ''inventions and discoveries'' relate to programming?

marilyn Monroe

is a mass-produced postcard of marilyn monroe considered propiertary property by the artist who took the picture.

Reverse Engineering, Encryption Research, and Emulation

Assume there is an online game called Game X. The game is solely online, meaning that you can only play it while connected to the internet and connected to Company Y's server for Game X. There is a fee of Z dollars per month to play the game.

Company Y does not charge to download the game client for Game X, that is a free download. The only fee you must pay (aside your own ISP fee) is the Z dollars per month for each account you wish to use on their game servers.

Their Terms of Service (ToS) prohibits reverse-engineering but the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act (UCITA) is not passed in North Carolina (where I reside).

My question is that if I were to reverse engineer the game client's communication to the game server for Game X and research their encryption for aforementioned communications would that be legal?

After such efforts, I would want to build a server software that could emulate Game X's server software purely based on my research results alone. Would it be legal to do so?

If I were to make the emulated 'Game X' server software compatible with the official Game X client, would this be legal? I would not condone such interoperability but it would be supported by the emulated server software.

Privilege

A and B are negotiating a contract, neither has an attorney nor has either had any prior legal advice that is relevant. At some point in the process, B retains an attorney. Later on, C has a dispute with B, and has valid reasons to inquire into the contract. Can B assert attorney-client privilege for discussions with or documents to and from A that took place before he retained counsel? As a related question, can C ask in discovery the name of the attorney B retained and the date on which he was retained, or is that information privileged? This question should be answered in the context of Federal Rules; any cites would be appreciated also (since I don't have access to Lexis/Nexis).

Copywriting or trade marking a name for a franchise

Hello,

I have an idea for a childrens book. I have the name all set-up, and I was wondering if there is a way to copyright or trademark my name for possible book publishing and other franchise perks such as toys and coloring books and merchandising? Example being...let's say i created ''south park'', but have no drawings or anything but a name and ideas....how would i go about copyrighting or trademarking the name ''south park'' so noone else can use it before my materials are published?

Thank you

DARREN

illegal music

A local radio station played a leaked copy of a band's soon to be released album. Is there any legal action that can be taken against the station by the artist or label?

Short Phrase

If I wanted to put a short phrase that is a play on words, how would I protect it so i could sell it exclusively. This phrase could be on a bumper sticker or T-shirt

Internet domain copyright issues

I am the owner of yebay dot com.

In the movie Shrek 3, they used the name of my website Yebay, showing a logo- Shrek the Third, the character says she shops on YeBay. Check video on youtube.

I want to know if this can be a case of copyright infringement, they couldnt use ebay dot com because of issues with eBay, but they used my domain name. I want to know if we might have a case against DreamWorks Animation SKG.

Please advise.

Trademark Issue

Own a domain name and want to package a cosmetic product under that name. Although no company has trademark for exact name of this product one does have trademark for skincare.

Since there is a difference between skincare and cosmetics (makeup).

Might hire someone (at reasonable price to research this)

Copyrighting a product

Can I copyright a product (i.e. a bag)? My bag has been published on a number of blogs and magazines and I do not know how to protect the design concept or the product. Also, I would like to approach a larger company to try to get it manufactured. What kind of IP protection do I need for this? Maybe a simple nondisclosure agreement would do? Since patenting is so expensive and time consuming, Im hoping I can avoid it with a copyright instead.

Name Exclusivity

Can I Register or Copyright my unique personal name so no one else can use it, or do I have to be a celebrity?

Intellectual Property Theft

contract employee resigned and took and then deleted documents from computer, including customer call list, customer invoices, etc. Customers have been contacted. What is legal recourse for us?

Joint ownership of lake house

I have joint ownership with another family on a lake house. We don't agree with each other anymore and I want to set up a share time, such every other week. He disagrees and wants to use it whenever he wants. I then would like to sell it on the open market with a realator because we would never come up with a price to buy out the other, but he won't sell. What can I do in either case?

Legal coverage in the event of quitting?

I am a named defendant in a suit involving my previous employer against my old boss and new company. If I quit is my new employer obliged to provide me with legal representation at their expense even though I am no longer working with them? This is a publicly traded company and the suit is interfering with my day to day sales activities as a result of a TRO. I am concerned that I may be obliged to hire my own attorney at my expense if I quit .

Photos of local businesses

I would like to make and sell pins featuring photos I've taken of the facades of local businesses. Would I be able to do this without their permission, or would I be infringing on their trademarks?

Plagiarism

Hi I'm an investment Trainer and I sell webinars for a living. I recently sold one webinar (video e book) that I created (with a warning not to resell or re-distribute without author's consent) to a guy who did not know a thing before buying my webinar (I have several written proofs of him saying--name removed-- after viewing my webinar he created an Ebook copying the information, techniques and strategies, added additional information, claiming it as his own and has been circulating it in the internet for free. This is hurting my business, what can I do?

Politics NEWS fair use?

If Se, Fred Thompson declares his candidacy for President of the United States does that allow 'fair use' of his films, interviews etc?

Updating contact info for attorney

I need to update the contact info for an attorney who is admitted to practice in the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. How do I go about doing that?

3d illustrations of other's copyrighted/patented objects

I am a 3D illustrator looking into self-publishing a book of 3D cutaway illustrations of various household devices. Would it be legal to include a 3D cutaway illustration of the Microsoft X-box (for example)?