Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

The Intellectual Property StrategistKickerLJN NewslettersNewsSections

Ninth Circuit Issues Controversial Copyright Decision

By J. Alexander Lawrence

The Ninth Circuit recently issued an opinion in the case of Garcia v. Google, No. 12-57302, 2014 U.S. App. LEXIS 3694 (9th Cir. Feb. 26 2014), arising out of an actress' performance in a highly controversial film entitled The Innocence of Muslims . The Arabic translation of the film went viral on the Internet and led to protests across the Middle East. The film played a pivotal role in the debate over the Sept. 11, 2012 attacks on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi Libya, the 2012 presidential election, and the subsequent demise of Susan Rice's nomination for Secretary of State.

The Ninth Circuit has held that an actress with a small role the film has an independent copyright interest in her performance. Google has sought en banc review. If not vacated, the decision will have important copyright law implications for the motion picture industry, online content providers, and numerous other creators and distributors of copyrighted material.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The Article 8 Opt In Image

The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.

Beach Boys Songs Written Decades Ago Triggered Current Quarrel With Lawyers Image

There's current litigation in the ongoing Beach Boys litigation saga. A lawsuit filed in 2019 against Nevada residents Mike Love and his wife Jacquelyne in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada that alleges inaccurate payment by the Loves under the retainer agreement and seeks $84.5 million in damages.

Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws Image

This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.

Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin Image

With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.

Transfer Tax Implications on Real Property Leases Image

The real property transfer tax does not apply to all leases, and understanding the tax rules of the applicable jurisdiction can allow parties to plan ahead to avoid unnecessary tax liability.