Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

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

IP News

By Howard Shire and Shaleen J. Patel
December 01, 2020

NY District Court Adds to Confusion Surrounding Embedding

In the rapidly changing environment surrounding the legal issue of embedding (a type of inline linking that displays images and videos hosted somewhere other than the current publisher's servers), the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York has added another ruling that places the liability associated with such behavior in uncertain waters. On Nov. 2, 2020, the court dismissed plaintiff Michael Barret Boesen's Complaint against United Sports Publications, Ltd. (USP) on the grounds that it failed to allege a claim for which relief could be granted under Rule 12(b)(6). Boesen v. United Sports Publs., Ltd., No. 20-CV-1552 (ARR) (SIL), 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 203682 (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 2, 2020)

Embedding social media has been a commonplace practice for years. Indeed, it is still commonplace to see Instagram and twitter posts embedded throughout other publishers' content. Such a practice seemed safe under the Ninth Circuit's "server test" adopted in Perfect 10, Inc. v. Amazon.com, Inc, 508 F.3d 1146 (9th Cir. 2007). However, in recent years, the notion that embedders may be liable as copyright infringers has resurfaced as courts outside of the Ninth Circuit address the issue. See, e.g., Goldman v. Breitbart News Network LLC, 302 F. Supp. 3d 585, 590 (S.D.N.Y. 2018); Leader's Inst., LLC v. Jackson, No. 3:14-CV-3572-B, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19355, 29-30 (N.D. Tex. Nov. 22, 2017); McGucken v. Newsweek LLC, No. 19 Civ. 9617 (KPF), 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96126 (S.D.N.Y. Jun. 1, 2020).

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.

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.

Legal Possession: What Does It Mean? Image

Possession of real property is a matter of physical fact. Having the right or legal entitlement to possession is not "possession," possession is "the fact of having or holding property in one's power." That power means having physical dominion and control over the property.

Warehouse Liability: Know Before You Stow! Image

As consumers continue to shift purchasing and consumption habits in the aftermath of the pandemic, manufacturers are increasingly reliant on third-party logistics and warehousing to ensure their products timely reach the market.

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.