All Questions
28,262
questions
1
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1
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207
views
Are any subjects or contents off-limits for publication in "free-speech" countries?
Even if a government claims to respect "freedom of speech," are there any topics that can be prohibited from publication?
Examples might be Uncle Fester books or WikiLeaks.
- 617
13
votes
1
answer
6k
views
When is making a subtitle file for a commercial movie legal?
For example, on OpenSubtitles, a website which offers 3.5 million subtitles we can read Disclaimer:
These files are NOT illegal warez downloads, we only offer files that we believe we are free to ...
- 617
1
vote
1
answer
246
views
Can a manager decline a request for a sick day?
At work can a manger tell an employee that they must come in to work after requesting a sick day? What if the reason is something like they need to go to the dentist to get their annual teeth cleaning?...
- 707
4
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Can leasehold contracts be amended, and is this a common practice in UK?
I have recently asked following question around leasehold contract in property I am in the process of buying. It states that I am not allowed to sublet parts of building I can only sublet it as a ...
- 436
1
vote
1
answer
171
views
How much of a work needs to be used for it to be derivative?
Consider for example the starship enterprise (registry NCC1701) from the star trek tv series. If someone takes a picture of the ship from the tv show and sticks it on a poster, it is clearly a ...
- 409
9
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How can Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity and Guilty but Mentally Ill exist in the same legal system?
I was reading about the two types on insanity pleas, known as 'NGRI' (Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity) and 'GBMI' (Guilty But Mentally Ill).
For example, a good excerpt is here on Google Books.
...
- 478
8
votes
2
answers
388
views
How do I convince google to take down this page which contains people's leaked e-mails and passwords?
Out of curiousity, I googled my own e-mail to see what kind of results would show up. To my surprise, I found a website (blogger) that contained people's e-mails and leaked passwords for a service. ...
- 81
3
votes
3
answers
10k
views
What are the main differences between Napoleonic law and Germanic law?
I only recently started appreciating the differences between Civil Law and Common Law.
The following map on wikipedia shows the distribution of different legal systems around the world, which ...
- 131
13
votes
10
answers
6k
views
What distinguishes adverse possession from theft?
I understand that, in the United States, adverse possession is a legal (but very rare) way to take ownership of someone else's real property against their will.
What I don't understand is how this is ...
- 229
4
votes
1
answer
556
views
Assignment and subletting of leasehold in UK
I am planning on buying a worn down property that has 4 big rooms to fix it up, and then rent out 2 out of 4 rooms - room by room. I would live with my family in the other two (at least for the ...
- 436
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Legality of using data obtained by hacking to make a blog post
As a data scientist, based in the UK, I am thinking about downloading the recently leaked Ashley Madison data, producing some interesting statistics (none of them incriminating), and using them to ...
- 183
4
votes
1
answer
660
views
When is a contract legally binding?
If one party wrote an agreement down on paper and the other party signed it, does that make it legally binding? For example, something silly like if Bob wrote on a piece of scrap paper that he will ...
- 707
2
votes
1
answer
179
views
mitigation of joint and several liability when renting shared housing
My understanding of the rationale behind joint and several liability is that the tenants would be most knowledgeable how to fairly distribute a cost amongst themselves. My question is what can be done ...
- 707
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
Copyright of passport pictures
Let's say Person1 takes camera pictures of the following items and releases them as public domain:
The external cover of her own USA passport
The external cover of the USA passport of a willing ...
- 350
2
votes
1
answer
154
views
Arizona form to allow victim to speak to defendent
Upon an accidental argument/fight in which the husband is being told of assault for pretrial and if the wife which is the victim is wanting to talk to the husband (defendant) then the victim should ...
- 23
3
votes
1
answer
93
views
It is appropriate to include Google Maps screenshot acknowledging it is from Google?
As my web spider was crawling, I found this site. It uses a Google Maps screenshot without using the widget or acknowledging that it is from Google. Is this legal? Should I inform the site to remove ...
user8366
2
votes
1
answer
53
views
US Can public survey or experimental data be used in profit content if cited?
If I'm looking to build an app or write a book and I wish to use statistics, am I allowed to basically use their numbers as long as I cite where it is coming from? If I do make a profit from it, do I ...
- 625
2
votes
1
answer
47
views
doctor fees for lawyer services
I am a physician and almost routinely am inundated with forms from lawyers to fill for my patients so they can get disability. They get paid for these cases but expect me to fill these forms at no ...
- 21
6
votes
2
answers
915
views
Can you go to jail for not paying taxes?
In what circumstances can you go to jail for not paying taxes in the US/UK?
For instance the company doesn't pay taxes for very long time and government can't take any money from the company. Is it ...
- 617
11
votes
2
answers
1k
views
At what point can a computer-generated file infringe copyright?
In general it is illegal to download a copyrighted file without paying the copyright owner.
But is having metadata (hash) of the copyrighted material legal?
What if I've run a program (like Mathgen)...
- 617
3
votes
2
answers
317
views
How does the exclusive right to public display apply, e.g., to t-shirts?
17 USC §106(5) says that the copyright holder of work holds the exclusive right to display the work publicly:
(5) in the case of literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, ...
- 3,329
2
votes
2
answers
108
views
Can one publish an assignment completed during a hiring process?
Say a company gives a week long assignment during the hiring process of a Software Engineer role and ask for the project´s codebase to remain private.
Can they morally and legally ask to keep that ...
- 71
4
votes
2
answers
319
views
Can anyone record a cover of a song I put on SoundCloud?
My friend asked me if he could record a cover of a song that I put on SoundCloud called Gratitude (License: All Rights Reserved).
What legal rights does my friend have? Does he need my permission?
...
- 141
1
vote
2
answers
97
views
Hastening execution in response to actions by third parties
This year Jordan hastened the execution of terrorists in retaliation to daesh killing Jordanian hostage Moaz al-Kaseasbeh, having threatened to do so. That is, Jordan treated its own prisoners as ...
- 490
4
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Storing Google Maps Geocoding Data: Developer Site Tutorial Contradicts Terms of Service?
IANAL, but according to the Google Maps API Terms of Service, it appears as though one is not allowed to store geocoding results in a database:
10.1.3 Restrictions against Copying or Data Export.
...
- 141
14
votes
1
answer
10k
views
How to prove the genuinity/nongenuinity of a signature?
I'm not a law student, but I'm very interested in the topic and learning in general.
I got curious about contracts and signatures recently, so I wondered if there have been cases where contracts ...
- 243
2
votes
1
answer
115
views
How to find where to serve process on a company with a non-unique name?
Suppose I transacted with a large business (perhaps a chain store or a hospital) that has a publicly-facing name "ABC", in the U.S. state in which I live, and wish to sue it for whatever reason.
How ...
- 216
0
votes
1
answer
92
views
Joke Website / Funny Website repercussions
I have made a funny site not really trying to be serious, which may involve hitting your head on a wall. I state this is a joke, and not meant to be taken seriously. But I'm just trying to cover my ...
- 177
2
votes
0
answers
200
views
What must I do to legally create a MMO browser game? [closed]
I am an adult programmer who knows (absolutely) nothing about law.
What must I do to start a MMO browser game?
I mean a massively-multiplayer online browser game similar to (for example) Travian, ...
- 335
3
votes
0
answers
273
views
Why doesn't Ecuador make Julian Assange an ambassador?
Julian Assange is currently living in the London Ecuadorian embassy to avoid being extradited to Sweden.
It's my understanding that diplomats are immune from prosecution, detention, and (presumably) ...
- 3,513
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Can a person bring a translator to the driving test in Arkansas?
My dad wants to get a drivers licence . He passed the written test. But his English listening is not perfect. We are from India btw.
So, may I legally be at the back seat of the car just in case he ...
- 131
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Can a landlord dictate where I can park when moving in/out of an apartment?
I recently moved out of a room that I rented in a house in Oakland, California. In my lease it under terms of vacating the premise my landlord added a clause stating:
"All moving must be done in ...
user1058
1
vote
0
answers
53
views
Question about NYPD regulations
I have heard this from 3 people now and I am trying to find the law being used.
In the NYC Transit system, if a party is even questioned by NYPD (something happens where they call in your drivers ...
- 33
4
votes
1
answer
63
views
How to effectively search laws?
A common answer to problems and situations includes researching your state/country's law to check what are the consequences of a particular action.
As a layman, it is difficult to do this research ...
13
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Can one be prosecuted in the US for buying stolen goods if one was unaware that it was stolen?
I have a practical example question that this applies to, so I'd like to know the answer in general, but specifically how it applies here.
Let's say I find something I'd like to buy on Craigslist, ...
- 131
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is contract valid if only one side signed it?
The company sent me the contract, I signed it and returned back to them, so now they should sign and send me the copy.
In Germany, what if they decide to not sign and withdraw the process. What one ...
- 151
2
votes
1
answer
133
views
Is it a typo in an official document?
I am looking at a document about a criminal case, that is published here. Knowing from the document it was created in 1992, I suppose the line saying 'Age at time of offense' is wrong saying 21, ...
- 123
4
votes
2
answers
861
views
Overtime salary in Germany
I have a work agreement and there is a point:
The gross monthly salary shall also discharge any extra work or overtime.
What does it mean? Does it mean that I get extra pay for overtime or it means ...
- 143
1
vote
1
answer
243
views
Is it illegal (under US law) to "manually" mass download from JSTOR?
Say I wish to determine the frequency of the use of the word "apple" in academic articles. And so I want to get as many academic articles as possible for analysis.
I have access (through my ...
user43
6
votes
1
answer
262
views
Are the Q&A posted on Stack Exchange websites valuable consideration?
In order to form a legally binding contract it is necessary that both parties provide valuable consideration.
Is the provision by a user on this (or other Stack Exchange sites) of a question, answer ...
- 198k
6
votes
4
answers
882
views
What is the point of website Terms and Conditions?
I was considering answering How prominent must terms of service be?; when I was struck by a thought: what is the point of website Terms and Conditions anyway?
Clearly, if they form a contract and ...
- 198k
6
votes
1
answer
143
views
How prominent must terms of service be?
How easy must it be to find a website's terms of service? I assume that if it's very difficult to find, then users couldn't be reasonably expected to know the terms of service. Are there any ...
- 507
0
votes
1
answer
139
views
When selling my own cover version of a song, is it legal to mention its appearance in a film for promotion?
Let's say I wish to record my own version of the song Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon.
It is obvious that I'm required to pay royalties to the original owner of the song.
But while promoting my song, ...
- 3
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Using Paintings for Commercial Purposes
I am in the process of developing an IOS application that displays paintings as part of it, ranging from the Mona Lisa to Picasso to Bob Ross's landscapes (there are many others in between). This app ...
- 545
20
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is there any way of having sex without risking jail in the United States?
I recently read a story about a 19 years old boy sentenced to jail and to be registered as a sex offender for 25 years for having sex with a 14 year old girl who lied about her age. The girl and her ...
- 201
2
votes
1
answer
250
views
Do sushi restaurants, grocers in California violate Proposition 65?
I've lived in California for a couple of years a couple of years ago, and have certainly seen Proposition 65 warnings all over the place, from the common grounds of apartment complexes, to fast food ...
- 5,018
0
votes
2
answers
553
views
How is obfuscated code treated by the law?
Hypothetical Scenario
Developer, A, contracts with company, B, to write code, C, that accomplishes X.
A writes C.
A obfuscates C. (Obfuscation transmorphs C into C' which still accomplishes X but C' ...
- 9,818
2
votes
0
answers
79
views
Accessing lab test results if younger than 18
Quest Diagnostics claims that "Lab test results are available to patients 18 years and older" in the written email that follows an account creation on their website.
Why does Quest have that policy?
...
- 5,437
2
votes
1
answer
129
views
Song Lyric Sites
How do song lyrics sites (such as azlyrics.com) legally operate? It seems that they can't claim fair use because they are making money (ads) and that they are publishing complete song lyrics.
- 121
8
votes
2
answers
266
views
Are pictures that don't have model releases protected under the DMCA?
Let's say a user of my website posted a picture. I know that as long as my website and the picture satisfies the conditions of the DMCA, I have a safe harbor against copyright claims by the individual ...
- 507