Legal Question in Intellectual Property in California

I am interestede in reselling lables to manufacturing and parmicudical companys. The wording field and headers would be the same wording as a company that has their lables copywrited. Example; Accepted on Green 2 * 1 lable.

If we change the font, border, color shade, or size, will we not be infringing on copywrite laws? Some words are indicitive to the industries we serve, examples.. Danger, Accepted, Hot, Caution, Help, First, MRB Review.....

Can his company have a copyrite on these words? Or are the free for all to use? What would The purpose of copywriting your lables if this hhas no impact?


Asked on 10/22/09, 9:49 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Bryan Whipple Bryan R. R. Whipple, Attorney at Law

No one may copyright a common word. If that were possible, pretty soon all 40,000 words would be taken and we would be back to writing with hieroglyphics.

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Answered on 10/27/09, 10:21 pm


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