Copyright

I would like to know what the legalities

are regarding the use of a celebrities

image in the design of web sets for web

sites. Is it legal to state on the web set

page that the fee being charged is not

for the graphics themselves but for the

time it took to create them?

Deceased Co-Writer

Back in the early eighties my wife (at the time) and I wrote about 50 pop and c&w songs. None of these songs where ever published or even copyrighted. She died in a car accident in 1997.

Do I have to get a release from her husband at the time of her death or anyone (for that matter) to enter into a contract with a publisher and continue to credit her name for her contribution.

Work for Hire/Withholding Payment

I have a client who is witholding

payment on a website project until I

sign his Work for Hire agreement

presented to me after I sent my final

invoice.

I don't want to sign it. He is a

lawyer. Is this illegal?

What should I do?

Thanks!

web mail access

I gave my ex girlfriend my aol password to get me some info I needed asap, she was at work and had access to a computer. A month later she accessed my account without my permission or knowledge and went through my emails. Finding some very personal ones from friends back in NY, She fowarded these to parties she felt would be intersted in my private thoughts. Causing much harm to many people. My question Is what she did illegal

the legality of photoshopping

I have several friends who are computer geeks, and recently they have taken to photoshopping (digitally editing pictures) of me into for lack of a better phrase- 'embarassing situations' (such as placing my face over other peoples faces in movies and such) I am extremely uncomfortable with this practice, and informed them of my dislike of this practice and I also requested that they please stop. However, they have continued with the photoshopping. I understand that a photographer basically has the right to take a picture of someone in a public area, but my question is this- Does the photographee have any rights to what happens to the photograph? Does a person have any rights to how images of him/her are edited?

name and idea of product

what type of lawyer or what do I need to protect a name for a product idea I have...so no one can use the name or the application idea

Photograph Copyright

I would like to gain a copyright in order to protect my photograph from being used without my permission. I am an actress and have my photograph taken for audition purposes and because it builds my portfolio. When I get my headshots taken, my photographers have to sign over their copyright to me. How can I get my own copyright to protect my property after the photographer has given up his right?

Publishing Royalties

I have a rather complicated question and/or case. I am a writer and worked for a company as their Publishing Director for 8 years. During that time, I wrote more than 30 books that were published - without any contract whatsoever. While most employees were asked to sign contracts on most anything, the company neglected to ever ask me. Now that company is treating me very poorly. They have even lied about my job performance - something I can prove (both the lie itself and the fact that it IS a lie). I fear this is going to hurt my career as I am now work as a freelance writer. My questions are twofold. 1: Do I have a case against them for their lying about me? And 2) Can I claim royalties for any of the books that I wrote for them? Most are still on the market and doing fairly well. Also -- what would the cost be on my part to go after the company for something like this? Thank you for your help.

land lock

I have accuried property that do not have access to what is my oppition of gaining access.

copyright

I want to sell tshirts online, but can't afford to trademark each saying. If I write a blog about the business with a fictional author mentioning the sayings, will they be protected under copyright law?

general partnership

what is the best way to form a partnership

contract

I sold a camper as is and wrote a contract saying that and got it noterized. I signed it and he signed it. Two weeks later he wants out of the sell of the camper. The transaction has already happened. Does he have any rights to get out of it?

Band Logo & Album cover Artwork compensation

As the designer of our Band Logo and Painter of the Cover Art of our upcoming National/International CD release I already have the trademark and copyright angle covered. I am also lead guitarist/songwriter in the Band.

My ?: What should I be asking for, contractually, from the Record Company with regard to monetary compensation for my visual contributions for the following:

1. Number of CD units sold

2. All merchandise that will have my Logo and Artwork on it

In other words, so much per unit and/or a certain percentage of every sale? or other?

Derivitive works, is it or isn't it.

I took a public domain (NASA) picture of a galaxy. I heavily modified the picture then put an arrow pointing to the Sun's approximate position in the Milky Way labeled with the words ''You are here''. I then sold t-shirts, etc., with the picture. I received a cease and desist letter from someone who claims to own the copyright to any depiction of any galaxy with the words ''you are here'' anywhere on the depiction. Can a copyright really be that broad?

baton show copyright

We were going to have T-shirts made up for my daughter's baton team which is doing a show to a Haunted Mansion theme. The director of the baton group said we had to get her legal approval before we could use the group's name or any reference to the show or the music in the show including ''Haunted Mansion'', ''Superstition'' etc. Is she right that we have to get her written permission?

Ownwership of invented products

I invented a product line, sourced a unique material for line, had an exclusive/non-compete agreement, the MFG sold the company, new owner changed co to LLC, but kept name, who owns my products now?

Privileged In Discovery

The opposing party to a lawsuit formed an LLC online, and has claimed privilege for documents pertaining to the LLC's formation. I believe their discussions about forming the LLC are relevant, it could contain statements like ''We know we are doing bad things and could get sued, let's form an LLC to save ourselves.'' They almost surely never really spoke to an attorney in the formation, although the online service that started it for them may techincally be their attorney.

I have two questions.

1) Are discussions they had before the date they retained an attorney privileged?

2) Am I allowed to ask in an interrogatory on what date they retained an attorney and who the attorney was, or is this information itself privileged?

Image used for advertsing

I attended a convention last year where I volunteered and dressed in costume. A photographer for the event asked if I minded having my photo taken because it may appear in the publication he worked for. I said no thinking it would be used for a report on the event. Since then the photo of me has been used several times to advertise the same convention being held this year. I did not sign a release for this. Am I entitled to anything?

Copyright

Can you please tell me the legal steps I need to take to get my book copyright protected so that I may get it published?

trademarking a company name

When trademarking a company name --How similar is too similar for the trademark office to reject your application. 1 word, 2 words? What if it's 2 words but a different type of service business?