Ashima A. Dayal was quoted in a Bloomberg Law article "‘Game of Life’ Copyright Fight Tests Who Owns Old Creative Works". Continue Reading
That Post Could Cost You: Copyright Infringement Claims Continue for Social Media Posts
7th Edition: Trends in Marketing Communications Law What do Kim Kardashian, Amy Schumer, LeBron James, Gigi Hadid, and the brands Versace, Fenty and Moschino all have in common? Each has been sued for copyright infringement after posting on their social media channels photographs owned by Continue Reading
The Battle Over ‘Unprotectable’ Elements in Music Copyright Suits Rages On
7th Edition: Trends in Marketing Communications Law Taylor Swift and Katy Perry joined the growing ranks of famous musicians who have battled copyright infringement suits in recent years. While claims of impermissible copying are nothing new in the music business, the recent spate of suits Continue Reading
Intellectual Property Magazine | American Graffiti
Not everyone realizes that, like any art form that is “fixed in a tangible medium of expression”, original street art may be protected from unauthorized use under the US Copyright Act. For that reason, anyone considering using street art in commercial content must carefully evaluate whether a Continue Reading
Copying Photographs Found Online and the Fair Use Defense
The Bottom Line Companies that find photographs, images, or social media posts online and seek to use these works in advertising or another commercial context, without obtaining the copyright owner’s permission, may subject themselves to copyright infringement claims, even if they crop the works Continue Reading
What’s Going On? Another Marvin Gaye Lawsuit Tests the Limits of Copyright Protection
6th Edition: Trends in Marketing Communications Law Just when you thought it was over, another copyright infringement lawsuit involving a Marvin Gaye song is set for trial. The dust had barely settled on the infamous “Blurred Lines” case when a second suit, this time targeting Continue Reading
Supreme Court Settles Circuit Split on When a Plaintiff May Sue
6th Edition: Trends in Marketing Communications Law The Supreme Court handed down a unanimous copyright decision in March 2019 with implications for anyone involved in a copyright dispute, as well as for marketers and brands that create and use copyrighted materials. In Fourth Estate Public Continue Reading
Bright Ideas Journal | ReDigi and the Application of the First Sale Doctrine to Digital Works
The First Sale Doctrine, codified in section 109(a) of the Copyright Act, generally permits the owner of a lawfully made “copy” or “phonorecord” containing a copyrighted work to resell the copy or phonorecord without violating the copyright holder’s distribution right. For example, if someone Continue Reading
When Does “Copying” a Photograph of a Building Constitute Copyright Infringement?
The Bottom Line Companies that use pre-existing photographs of buildings for reference in advertising or other materials may subject themselves to copyright infringement lawsuits. Even though there is generally no copyright protection for a building itself, there may be protection for a rendering Continue Reading
President Trump Signs the Music Modernization Act Into Law
The Bottom Line The Music Modernization Act is getting a lot of press, and for good reason: it is one of the most significant updates to music law in decades. While the impact of the MMA will primarily be felt by DSPs, artists and songwriters, the creation of the Mechanical Licensing Collective and Continue Reading