Can you make a brand with a similar likeness logo and/or name without being sued?

You cannot make a brand with a similar name/ logo for your business purposes. This will cause a likelihood of confusion between someone's registered trademark or a common-law senior mark with your new mark. You may get sued for trademark infringement. Your question has nothing to do with copyright. Copyright only protects the original work of authorship.  It is generally recommended that you pursue a trademark search before you plan to use a brand name or logo.    Disclaimer: The response is general in nature and cannot be construed as legal advice. If you would like to have legal advice, then please consult any competent attorney privately to discuss your case and establish a proper attorney-client relationship. I only work through my website at https://affordabletrademarkattorney.com/