Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%
Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.
IP News
USPTO Director Kathi Vidal Announces Resignation Ahead of Administration Change
Kathi Vidal, the director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, announced in a social media post that she will leave her position this month as the Biden administration prepares to close its term.
Vidal, who said that as of Dec. 16 she will rejoin Winston & Strawn’s litigation department as a partner and member of the executive committee, has served as undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the USPTO since her Senate confirmation in 2022. She was nominated by President Joe Biden in 2021.
In a letter shared on her LinkedIn profile, Vidal said Deputy Director Derrick Brent would succeed her after she departs the USPTO in the second week of December.
‘Rampant Piracy’: US Record Labels File Copyright Suit Against French Distributor Believe
Song clips commonly used in social media posts are at the center of a copyright suit brought by several record labels alleging that Paris-based music distributor Believe S.A. and its New York subsidiary “blatantly” infringed on songs recorded by well-known artists such as Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and others.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, claims Believe and TuneCore Inc. knowingly infringed on copyrights by distributing “sped-up” versions of popular songs, many of them attributed to artists using altered versions of the true performers’ names, such as “Arriana Gramde,” “Llady gaga” or “Rihamna.”
“Believe knows full well that it has no right to distribute and purport to license these tracks but does nothing to identify these obvious infringements, choosing instead to blind itself to the illegal nature of its own music catalog,” the complaint says.
The suit was filed by Jenner & Block on Nov. 4 on behalf of Universal Music Group Recordings, Capitol Records, and Capitol CMG of Santa Monica, California; ABKCO Music & Records of New York; and Concord Music Group of Nashville, Tennessee.
This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only
ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE SINGLE SOURCE OF OBJECTIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS, PRACTICAL INSIGHTS, AND NEWS IN ENTERTAINMENT LAW.
- 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
Already a have an account? Sign In Now Log In Now
For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later
The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.
Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations
This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.
The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs
The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.
How AI Has Affected PR
When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.
CLE Shouldn't Be the Only Mandatory Training for Attorneys
Each stage of an attorney's career offers opportunities for a curriculum that addresses both the individual's and the firm's need to drive success.