Copyright Lawyers for McAllen, Texas
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Jessica W.
Family and Probate attorney with over 15 years experience.
"Jessica is a great lawyer, and I would recommend her to anyone."
Joe S.
M. Joseph “Joe” Smith is the founder of Celina Law, P.C. and Amirext LLC. Licensed to practice law in Connecticut and Texas, he helps clients with commercial contracts, mergers and acquisitions, financing, corporate governance, and disputes. Whether reviewing a straightforward agreement or guiding a complex transaction, Joe brings practical judgment and personal attention to matters large and small.
"Joe was responsive, communicative and a real advocate for me. He was thorough with the work, and managed expectations very clearly. I would 100% hire Joe again, and may do so very soon."
Mike R.
Practicing attorney and former law professor with 28 year's experience, including class actions and appeal. Primary practice areas: commercial litigation, contracts, business counseling, formation, collections, asset protection, employment, and government regulation. Extensive law teaching experience, including legal writing, legal research, contract drafting, civil procedure, contracts, conflict of laws, and business organizations. Attorney Rusco heads Rusco Law. Rusco Law attorneys practice in California, New York, Texas, Colorado, and Wisconsin. For more information, please visit www.ruscolaw.com. For more information about business counseling services, please visit https://www.ruscolaw.com/practice-areas-and-services-offered. Rusco Law combines big-firm expertise with small-firm personal attention to give a limited set of clients unparalleled representation and service. We provide: • Complete litigation services, from pre-filing demands through Supreme Court appeals. Extensive experience in commercial, employment, tribal, and personal injury matters. • Sophisticated business counseling with an emphasis on start ups, including formation, risk management, internal governance, employment policy, regulatory advocacy, and trademark/trade secret/patent protection. • Detailed contract negotiation, review, and compliance monitoring, including major construction and service agreements. • Full-spectrum legal support for principals and their families, including passionate injury representation, including childcare and playground accidents.
"Was flexible in scope as things changed. Helped get the job done."
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Anna C.
I am a business attorney focused on practical, efficient contract drafting, review, and negotiation for healthcare organizations and growth-stage and established businesses. My work includes commercial agreements such as NDAs, MSAs/SOWs, leases, vendor and services agreements, SaaS, and employment and severance agreements. I partner closely with clients to identify key legal and business risks, deliver clear, business-minded redlines with concise issue summaries, and keep transactions moving. Clients value my responsive turnaround, judgment, and ability to balance risk with commercial objectives.
"It was a pleasure working with Anna, very responsive, communication is clear and I am satisfied. Looking forward to continues engagement."
April 29, 2025
Jennifer W.
I am a seasoned real estate attorney with over 20 years of experience advising clients across all facets of real estate development, leasing, and construction. Known for a practical and solution-oriented approach, I have guided developers, property owners, and investors through complex transactions, contract negotiations, and regulatory challenges with efficiency and clarity. I also worked in house for the largest developer for Target retail centers in North Texas.
JOSEPH R.
June 20, 2025
JOSEPH R.
Since starting as a Wall Street lawyer in 2004, I have led and closed 100's of transactions ranging from small business acquisitions to multi-billion-dollar domestic and international deals as well as private capital raises large and small. With over 20 years of experience in corporate, M&A, and securities law, I provide strategic legal counsel tailored to high-stakes business initiatives as well as critical advice to startups and companies raising capital. 🔴CORE PRACTICE AREAS: Capital Raising: Structuring and preparing Private Placement Memorandums (PPMs), SAFE Notes, Convertible Notes, Promissory Notes, Bridge Notes, Warrants, Reg A, Reg CF, Reg D, and Reg S offerings. Business Transactions: Representing buyers and sellers in domestic and cross-border M&A. Startups and Growth-Stage Businesses: Formation, structuring, scaling, and preparing businesses for investment or acquisition. Exit Planning: Legal strategy and execution for business sales and investor exits. Strategic Advisory: Advising boards of directors, C-suite executives and founders on overall business strategy and business acquisition/disposition matters. 🔴LEGAL EXPERTISE: Structuring and negotiating complex M&A and capital markets transactions. Drafting core transactional documents: purchase agreements, subscription agreements, operating/shareholder agreements, and corporate governance materials. Advising on securities compliance, including Reg A, Reg D, and Reg S offerings, Blue Sky compliance, and SEC filings. Fund formation and structured finance: extensive experience with CDOs, CMBS/RMBS, and Investment Company Act issues. Partnering with senior management and boards to align legal strategies with business objectives. Collaborating with international counsel and multidisciplinary teams on multijurisdictional deals. 🔴TRACK RECORD: Former Senior Associate Attorney at international Corporate M&A powerhouse Clifford Chance and top Corporate & Structured Finance law firm Thacher Proffitt & Wood both in Manhattan (New York City), where I represented investment banks, public and private companies, private equity sponsors, startups and hedge funds on strategic transactions. Closed and supported multi-billion-dollar deals across industries and jurisdictions. Delivered practical legal solutions to drive successful outcomes for clients ranging from startups to global financial institutions. I am licensed to practice law in New York and Texas. Corporate & Securities Attorney | Strategic Deal Advisor | M&A and Capital Raising Specialist
July 19, 2025
Maricela G.
I’m a Texas-based attorney with extensive experience in business law, real estate transactions, estate planning, probate, and immigration. I focus on providing clear, efficient, and client-focused legal solutions. Whether you're looking to draft, review, or negotiate contracts, I bring a practical mindset and attention to detail to protect your interests and help you move forward with confidence.
September 8, 2025
Scott M.
Real Estate, Finance, and Business Attorney in the Dallas area, specializing in multifamily, hotel, public improvement districts, business law, and all types of real estate matters. I can also assist with uncontested divorces.
September 18, 2025
George M.
I am a corporate lawyer with extensive experience assisting clients of all sizes, from solo practitioners to enterprise-level international corporations. Over the course of my career, I have negotiated, drafted, and reviewed thousands of contracts spanning a wide range of industries and complexities. My practice is focused on delivering practical, business-oriented legal solutions that help clients protect their interests and achieve their goals.
September 24, 2025
David A.
David M. Abner is a practicing attorney with over 30 years of experience representing clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies in California and Texas. Mr. Abner is currently based in Los Angeles, California, and his practice focuses on negotiating the purchase and sale of businesses; negotiating equity and debt financing agreements; drafting and negotiating revisions to a variety of commercial agreements; and investigating and responding to law enforcement and regulatory compliance investigations. Additionally, Mr. Abner has considerable experience dealing with litigation involving ownership and valuation of privately held companies. He has tried nearly a dozen cases in private practice, including cases involving breach of contract, products liability, fraud, and officer and director liability. As in-house counsel for Ashland Inc., Mr. Abner worked with business leaders daily to assess, manage and prevent a variety of legal risks that threatened the viability and profitability of products, services and customer relationships. His efforts produced results that included settling a $700M anti-trust class action lawsuit for less than $7M; assisting in closing the sale of the company’s joint venture interests in an oil and gas subsidiary; assessing and quantifying the liabilities associated with the acquisition of other businesses; and supervising Ashland’s responses to DOJ, FBI and EPA investigations. Mr. Abner has been licensed to practice law in Texas since 1993, and in California since 2012. Mr. Abner obtained his Juris Doctorate from the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University in 1993, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Carolina in 1990.
February 12, 2026
Chase L.
Chase D. Lambert, Esq. is a distinguished commercial business litigation attorney with a profound academic background and extensive experience in both transactional and litigation legal realms. A graduate of Kansas State University, Chase holds a Dual Major in Entrepreneurship and Finance, accompanied by a Minor in Economics, reflecting a multifaceted understanding of business dynamics and economic principles. Continuing his academic journey, Chase pursued his legal education at Pepperdine Law, where he further honed his expertise with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship through the prestigious Palmer Institute for Entrepreneurship in the Law. This specialized training equipped him with a nuanced understanding of legal intricacies within entrepreneurial ventures, empowering him to offer comprehensive legal solutions tailored to the unique needs of business clients. Throughout his career, Chase has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence and client satisfaction. With a diverse clientele spanning across various industries, he has successfully navigated complex legal landscapes, adeptly handling a myriad of transactional and litigation matters with precision and efficacy. With a strategic mindset and a passion for advocating on behalf of businesses, Chase is dedicated to delivering unparalleled legal representation characterized by diligence, integrity, and a results-driven approach. His legal acumen, coupled with his understanding of business dynamics, renders him a formidable asset for clients seeking proficient legal counsel in commercial litigation matters. Beyond his professional endeavors, Chase remains actively engaged in the legal community, continuously seeking opportunities to stay abreast of emerging trends and advancements in commercial law. Committed to excellence in every aspect of his practice, he remains poised to provide comprehensive legal guidance and steadfast advocacy to businesses navigating the complexities of the legal landscape
March 1, 2026
Erica L.
I’m an experienced attorney offering practical, client-centered representation across contracts, estate planning (wills), and family law matters. I focus on clear communication, efficient strategy, and results that fit real life, not just the rulebook. Whether you need a straightforward document or steady advocacy through a difficult transition, I provide reliable guidance from start to finish.
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Browse Lawyers NowCopyright Legal Questions and Answers
Copyright
Content Licensing Agreement
California
What are the legal requirements and considerations for licensing internet content?
I am an aspiring content creator who has recently started producing and publishing original digital content, such as articles, videos, and photographs, on various online platforms. As I begin to gain traction and receive inquiries from individuals and companies interested in using my content, I want to ensure that I understand the legal requirements and considerations for licensing my internet content. I am particularly concerned about protecting my intellectual property rights, specifying permitted uses, and ensuring fair compensation for the use of my content, and I would appreciate guidance on the legal aspects of internet content licensing to navigate this new phase of my career.
Dolan W.
Hello1 Thanks for choosing contractscounsel.com. So first off, you automatically own the copyright to anything you create, but registering it with the U.S. Copyright Office gives you extra legal protection if someone misuses it. This is the difference between a "common law" copyright and an actual copyright that you can use against people in court! When licensing your content, think about the rules you want in place. Are you giving one person exclusive rights or letting multiple people use it? What’s allowed? Posting on social media, commercial use, etc.? Spell everything out clearly. Payment is an important consideration in terms of frequency and amount. A solid licensing agreement is your safety net. It should cover the scope of use, payment, attribution, and what happens if someone breaks the deal. Hiring a lawyer to help with this can save you headaches later. We can always draft licensing agreements for you as it's our specialty. Thanks again! Dolan
Copyright
Copyright License Agreement
California
Can I use copyrighted material in my YouTube videos without violating the Copyright License Agreement?
I am a YouTuber and I frequently use copyrighted material in my videos, such as music, images, and clips from movies or TV shows. I am aware that these materials are protected by copyright laws, but I am unsure if my use of them in my videos would violate the Copyright License Agreement. I want to ensure that I am not infringing on any copyrights or facing any legal consequences for using copyrighted material in my content.
Randy M.
When you upload a video to YouTube, you're automatically agreeing to their Terms of Service and Copyright Policy. What that really means is this: you're saying you either own the rights to every part of your video or you've gotten permission to use it. There isn’t a separate “Copyright License Agreement” that gives you a pass to use copyrighted material freely. That includes music, movie clips, TV shows, sports highlights, and even images you found online. Just giving credit or adding a line like “no infringement intended” doesn’t offer any legal protection. Now, how does YouTube actually enforce all of this? It mainly comes down to two systems. The first is Content ID. That one’s automated. It scans your video against a big database of copyrighted material that rights holders have submitted. If there’s a match, you’ll get a Content ID claim. That’s not the same as a copyright strike, but it can still have consequences. The rights holder might choose to monetize your video, block it in some countries, or just track how it performs. A lot of creators run into this when they use popular music, and usually the result is that they lose monetization for that video. In some cases, the rights holder might go a step further and issue both a Content ID claim and a formal takedown. The second system is a DMCA takedown notice. That’s a legal process under U.S. copyright law, and it lets a rights holder demand that infringing content be removed. If that takedown is valid, your channel gets a copyright strike. One strike can block you from live streaming. If you get three strikes within 90 days, your channel and any linked accounts can be terminated. Strikes expire after 90 days if you go through YouTube’s Copyright School, but if you keep getting them, things can escalate fast. Now, fair use is where a lot of creators hope they’re protected. It’s a legal doctrine in the U.S., found in Section 107 of the Copyright Act. In short, it allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission, as long as the use meets certain criteria and is considered transformative. Courts look at four main factors: First, the purpose and character of the use. Second, the nature of the copyrighted work. Third, how much of it you used and how significant that portion was. And fourth, whether your use could harm the market for the original. For example, if you're reviewing a movie and include a few short clips with your own commentary, that’s much more likely to fall under fair use than posting a montage of fight scenes with no added value. Using factual material, like a short news segment in a critique, tends to be safer than copying a full song or film scene. But the truth is, fair use is case-specific. There’s no guaranteed rule like “10 seconds is okay.” Only a court can give a definitive answer. So what can you do? The safest route is always to license the content. Services like Epidemic Sound, Artlist, and Storyblocks let you use music and footage under a subscription license. For free material, YouTube’s Audio Library is a solid option. You can also look at public domain works. In the U.S., that currently includes anything published before 1929. That date moves up each January 1. Another option is Creative Commons content, but you’ll need to follow the terms of those licenses, which can include attribution or limits on commercial use. If you’re going to rely on fair use, make sure what you’re doing is truly transformative. That means adding something original, like commentary, criticism, or parody. Use only what’s necessary and avoid the most recognizable or valuable parts of the original. It’s important to understand that even if you’re confident your video qualifies as fair use, YouTube can still take it down if the rights holder files a takedown notice. Your option at that point is to dispute it, but that can come with risks, including potential legal action. If your channel is monetized, repeated claims or strikes can impact your income and the long-term future of your account. Because fair use is such a gray area and carries real consequences, it’s wise to talk to a copyright attorney if you plan to use third-party material often. The attorneys on Contracts Counsel would be happy to assist.
Copyright
Photography Service Agreement
Georgia
Is it legal for a photographer to include a clause in their service agreement that grants them unlimited usage rights to the client's photos?
I recently hired a photographer for a family photoshoot and received their service agreement, which includes a clause stating that the photographer has unlimited usage rights to the photos taken during the session. I am concerned about the implications of this clause and whether it is legally binding, as I want to ensure that my family's privacy and personal images are protected.
Jerome L.
Great question—and you are right to pause and carefully review that clause. While it can be legal for a photographer to include a usage clause granting themselves broad rights, whether it is appropriate or enforceable depends on the exact language, the scope of use, and what both parties agreed to. Here’s What You Should Know: 1. Copyright Ownership Defaults to the Photographer Under U.S. copyright law, the photographer generally owns the images they capture—even if you paid for the photoshoot. What you, as the client, receive are usage rights outlined in the contract. 2. Unlimited Usage Clauses Are Legal, But Negotiable A clause granting the photographer “unlimited usage rights” allows them to use your images for portfolios, marketing, social media, contests, or even to sell prints—unless otherwise limited in writing. This can be legal and enforceable if it is clearly written and both parties agreed. However, you are not required to accept such terms. These clauses are absolutely negotiable. 3. Privacy and Personal Images Can Be Protected You have every right to request limitations—especially for personal or sensitive content. You can: Limit use to the photographer’s portfolio or website only Require your written consent before any public use Prohibit publication or commercial use entirely What You Can Do: Review the contract language closely—look for terms like “unlimited,” “perpetual,” or “irrevocable.” Negotiate modifications to the clause before signing. If the contract has already been signed, a legal review can help determine if you still have room to clarify or limit use based on state law or privacy considerations. If you would like assistance reviewing the agreement or drafting appropriate language to safeguard your privacy, I would be happy to help.
Copyright
Copyright Search
Arizona
Can I use a copyrighted image for a personal project?
I am a graphic designer and I came across a stunning image online that I would like to use for a personal project. However, I am unsure about the copyright implications of using this image without permission. I have tried conducting a copyright search to find information about the image's copyright holder, but I haven't been able to find any relevant details. Can I proceed with using the image for my personal project, or do I need to obtain permission from the copyright holder?
Connie M.
You usually need to get the permission of the owner of the photograph which is usually the photographer. Check the metadata or do a reverse image search to help you find the owner.
Copyright
Music License Agreement
Massachusetts
Can I use a licensed song for a YouTube video without facing copyright infringement issues?
I am a YouTuber and I recently came across a popular song that I would like to use as background music for one of my videos. I understand that the song is protected by copyright and would require a license for legal use. However, I am unsure about the specific terms and conditions of the license agreement and whether it would allow me to use the song in my YouTube video without facing any copyright infringement issues. I want to ensure that I am legally using the song and not infringing on any copyrights.
Randy M.
You can use a copyrighted song in your YouTube video legally if you’ve secured the correct type of license. Buying a song on iTunes or streaming it on Spotify doesn’t give you that right. Those purchases are only personal listening licenses and don’t extend to using the music in your own content. For YouTube, you need licenses that specifically cover synchronization with video and online distribution. Every song involves two separate copyrights. The first is the musical composition, which covers the melody, lyrics, and arrangement and is controlled by the music publisher. To pair the composition with visuals, you need a synchronization license. The second is the sound recording, also called the master, which is the specific recorded version owned by the record label. To use that track in your video, you need a master use license. For popular songs, that means negotiating two separate licenses with different parties. The process is often complicated, slow, and costly, which is why most YouTubers don’t license mainstream tracks directly. The more practical route is to use licensing platforms designed for creators. Services like Epidemic Sound, Artlist, and Musicbed provide subscription-based access to music libraries. They’ve already secured both composition and master rights, and they typically whitelist your YouTube channel so Content ID doesn’t block or demonetize your videos. Another option is stock music libraries such as PremiumBeat or AudioJungle, where you can buy individual track licenses. In those cases, you must read the terms carefully to confirm that the license covers YouTube, monetization, worldwide distribution, and long-term use. A perpetual license is preferable so you don’t face takedowns years later. Even if you have a valid license, YouTube’s Content ID system may still detect the track. That doesn’t mean you’ve infringed copyright. It just means the system has matched the audio. When that happens, you can dispute the claim and provide proof of your license. Reputable licensing companies usually assist in clearing these disputes. If you don’t have the right license, however, Content ID claims can result in demonetization, muting, regional blocks, or DMCA takedowns that put your channel at risk. Cost is another factor. Licensing a mainstream hit directly from a label and publisher can cost thousands of dollars, depending on the song and how it’s used. In contrast, a subscription service like Epidemic Sound runs on a predictable monthly or yearly fee and covers all the legal rights you need for YouTube use. If your channel is monetized, it’s also important to confirm that the license allows commercial use. A personal or non-commercial license won’t protect you if you earn revenue from your videos. To stay compliant, keep a copy of every license you obtain. Make sure the license explicitly allows use on YouTube, permits monetization, applies worldwide, and lasts for the life of your video. If you’re working with a platform subscription, ensure your channel is properly linked so that Content ID claims are automatically released. If you want to use a well-known commercial track, you’ll likely need professional help negotiating directly with the rights holders. For most creators, using licensed music from platforms built for YouTube is the safer and more cost-effective approach.
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