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Copyright & Patents/Questions Answered by Expert Kacey Cahill
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Label Design Copyright | 10/21/2009 |
| Q: I'm a specialty label distributor and have customers who have certain requirements regarding the ... A: Don, Yes, you may copyright anything that constitutes an "original" expression of an idea in a ... | |
| Copyrighting a cartoon | 10/16/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering how i could copyright a cartoon it's just a little character i made up but i think ... A: Liv, The moment you create an original expression of your idea in tangible form (the paper), it is ... | |
| NEw card game invention | 10/7/2009 |
| Q: The game involves battles/blockers and thats about all i can go in to for now. but i was wondering ... A: Reece, if you have an original expression of an idea, you may copyright it. You simply go to your ... | |
| Business Plan Copyright | 9/17/2009 |
| Q: Where could I find a standard template for the required details to submit a Business Plan for a ... A: Mark, I am not sure I understand the question. If you are asking how you file a copyright on a ... | |
| images | 8/13/2009 |
| Q: i have a few pictures that i found off of deviantart.comand i really want to show my friend on my ... A: Krystine, By definition, the image created that you are using is copyrighted by someone. If you ... | |
| Whose Property is It? | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: For the past several years I have worked for major corporation. As I learned the industry, I came ... A: Alan, The answer is it depends on the agreements you have signed with them. If you have signed an ... | |
| copywriting | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: I would like to copyright a board game that I have invented. My question is: is it necessary to use ... A: To file a copyright, you do not need an IP lawyer. Just go to the copyright office's website and ... | |
| How can I secure rights to use copyrighted material? | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: I'm a college student, and it occurred to me that students might like to have their text books ... A: Julia, Great idea. Yes, you need to get the permission from the copyright holder. Typically the ... | |
| An invention uses already existing invention | 7/5/2009 |
| Q: During my patent search i got a bit confused, after seeing some patents' claim containing prior ... A: Kanit, Good question. A patent that incorporates inventions that already exist and then add to it ... | |
| music legal ? | 6/30/2009 |
| Q: Can I legally sell a music cd that I made completely by myself lyrics and beats are all my ... A: Jeremy, If everything is your (your original work) -- then go right ahead. You do not need anything ... | |
| "Tweet" a Twitter Trademark? | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: Twitter.com has attempted to register "tweet" as a trademark of theirs. In your opinion do you ... A: Mark, I would be surprised if they were not successful. They would have had their PR firm vet this ... | |
| Copywrite infringement | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: I publish a book that we market worldwide. Googling the book will find dozens of sites that have ... A: Don, I am assuming that you obtained a copyright on the book. If so, you send the host company a ... | |
| ENHANCEMENT WOMENS SHOES | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: I have an idea that can economicaly enhance the consumers of women shoes. I just don't know how to ... A: The women's shoe market is huge and an enhancement that is unique in that market offers great ... | |
| copyright | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: If I copy and past something from a website and paste it into an email for distribution, and I give ... A: Neil, The quick answer is yes. If the underlying work is protected by copyright (which you should ... | |
| To Patent or Not to Patent | 5/22/2009 |
| Q: I have a very simple invention that is easy and cheap to produce. It was suggested by an attorney ... A: Yes and no. I think if you have an invention that you believe and understand to be new and useful ... | |
| candy recipe | 5/17/2009 |
| Q: This might be a strange question but I can't find the answer anywhere. I make candy and chocolates ... A: Brandy, First of all, I am always willing to sample in case you need people to make sure you are at ... | |
| Use of Artwork | 5/8/2009 |
| Q: I am a Graphic Designer and I created some Artwork for a client, it was a family friend so there was ... A: In general, for you to have transferred you copyrights under these circumstances, you would have ... | |
| False copyright claims? | 5/7/2009 |
| Q: Cahil, I do a lot of research in the French Revolutionary/Georgian Era. Often, I come up against ... A: France and the rest of most of the world adhere to the Berne convention, yes. The line between ... | |
| Who owns copyrights of photo in this case? | 5/3/2009 |
| Q: A personnel in a corporate company engaged a design agency to take pictures of it's office space. ... A: Jac, The answers to many of your questions will be found in the contract that governs that ... | |
| False copyright claims? | 5/2/2009 |
| Q: Cahil, I do a lot of research in the French Revolutionary/Georgian Era. Often, I come up against ... A: You are correct with respect to general US copyright law. The right lasts with respect to an ... | |
| Protecting a marketing method | 4/7/2009 |
| Q: I have came up with a business idea that will make alot of money..I am turning the concept that i ... A: Carlton, If the method is not obvious to those on whom you are employing it, etc., protect it by ... | |
| Confedintiality in Consulatation | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: Good day Cahill I am not a US citizen and I have an idea of a new technology. I found a ... A: Yaseen, Have them sign an agreement that protects you for the items about which you are concerned. ... | |
| royalties | 3/10/2009 |
| Q: I am doing a feasibility analysis for a school project. We are trying to determine how much we would ... A: Kasey (I don't think I have ever had a conversation with another Kasey -- we clearly could not be at ... | |
| Patenting an idea | 3/9/2009 |
| Q: I have lots of ideas for either new products or new ideas or maybe a different way something should ... A: Let me take a crack at giving you a high level analysis-- patents protect "inventions" that are ... | |
| Selling my patent coyrights | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: I got a patent March 14th 2000. Patent # 6,035,983. I have tried several patent services and have ... A: Peter. That is a tough question. If you have no contacts in the space, you need to start developing ... | |
| trademark | 2/14/2009 |
| Q: I just bought a domain name and plan to have a large scale internet company with time. Can I do a ... A: Al, I cannot put enough emphasis on this answer YES!!!! Trademark the name NOW. You can do a free ... | |
| Confidential Information | 1/21/2009 |
| Q: What steps can we take, besides a patent, to protect our proprietary information (product ... A: Elisa, ABSOLUTELY! If you have information that gives you an edge over your competition, you need ... | |
| Question about syndicated content | 1/13/2009 |
| Q: If I published an article on a website for free then it got syndicated by another site doesn't that ... A: Phoebe. If you write an original article, you own the copyright in it. Whether or not you publish ... | |
| how do i find out if my patent has been commercialized | 12/27/2008 |
| Q: how do i find out if my patent has been commercialized, and how do i get my share of compensation? i ... A: Vandy. If you worked for the company and developed the technology as part of your job for that ... | |
| martial arts and copywrites | 12/23/2008 |
| Q: This is an unusual question. Though I know I can't be the first one to have faced this specific ... A: Grant. I am answering this question under US law -- so I cannot be responsible for any US - UK or ... | |
| Intellectual property while employed and in school | 12/17/2008 |
| Q: I had a question regarding who owns intellectual property that is developed while employed, under ... A: Patrick. Great question. Here is the break out..... Work you do as "part of your job" while ... | |
| idea | 12/13/2008 |
| Q: I have an idea for a video game design that would be perfect for the Nintendo Wii and I think it ... A: You can get a patent on the game. You may have to file for a design patent, but I would first try ... | |
| Misappropriation of Trade Secrets | 12/5/2008 |
| Q: I am being accused of misappropriation of trade secrets. My former employer says that emails that I ... A: Klay. I am going to answer your question with the general guidelines on trade secrets so that you ... | |
| new invention | 12/1/2008 |
| Q: I have patented a new product.It is a worldwide patent but I need a company in America who can sell ... A: Congrats on patenting your product! I am not sure from you question if you are also manufacturing ... | |
| Coin Bank circa 1902 | 11/25/2008 |
| Q: We have an antique Coin Bank w/working lock and keys. I researched it's patent #758340 and only ... A: It looks like a very cool bank. It may have value as an antique that was manufacturered pursuant to ... | |
| copyright on old images | 11/19/2008 |
| Q: As a freelance designer, I've been using vintage images (such as found on the Library of Congress ... A: Dale. You have raised many points. I will try to answer them from the general to the secific. ... | |
Copyright & Patents
Answers by Expert:
Kacey Cahill
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer general questions regarding patents, confidential information and trade secret law. I work with businesses in protecting their intellectual property as well as determining how to best exploit it.
Experience
patents, confidential information and trade secrets; negotiating and drafting agreements regarding intellectual property like licenses, acquisitions, sales, alliances, non-competes, confidentiality agreements and other like agreements
Education/Credentials
University of Notre Dame - JD
Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science - BS
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