Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

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

Columns & Departments

Upcoming Events Image

Upcoming Events

ssalkin

Annual Entertainment, Sports &amp; Media Law Institute<br>Copyright Year in Review

Features

COUNSEL CONCERNS: Federal Judge Scolds Both Sides' Lawyers In Labels/Spinrilla Copyright Dispute Image

COUNSEL CONCERNS: Federal Judge Scolds Both Sides' Lawyers In Labels/Spinrilla Copyright Dispute

R. Robin McDonald

A federal judge in Atlanta called out attorneys in a nationally watched copyright case for their role in an “an all-out, knock-down, drag-out fight between the '800-pound Gorilla' of the recording industry in one corner of the room vs. 'Spinrilla', the self-proclaimed '800-pound Gorilla of free hiphop mixtapes' in the other corner.”

Features

Usher Song Credit Suit Outcome; Suit Over Led Zeppelin Song Gets Retrial  Image

Usher Song Credit Suit Outcome; Suit Over Led Zeppelin Song Gets Retrial 

Max Mitchell & Scott Graham

A man claiming to have been cheated out of credit for writing a song that was eventually recorded by R&amp;B star Usher won a more than $40 million judgment in a combined verdict and settlement against two men he co-wrote the song with. And the copyright case against Led Zeppelin by the band Spirit over "Stairway to Heaven" will return for an encore after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit called for a retrial.

Features

The 'New NAFTA' and How It Will Affect Intellectual Property Law Image

The 'New NAFTA' and How It Will Affect Intellectual Property Law

Lawrence E. Ashery 

The stage is set for the 24-year-old north American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to end and the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA), which has implications for intellectual property, to take its place.

Columns & Departments

Bit Parts Image

Bit Parts

Stan Soocher

<i>Friday the 13th</i> Screenplay Author's Copyright Termination Notice Found Valid<br>Infringement Suit over Justin Timberlake's “Damn Girl” Allowed to Proceed

Features

4 Takeways from EU Copyright Directive Vote Image

4 Takeways from EU Copyright Directive Vote

Dan Clark

In September, the European Parliament passed a new draft of the European Union (EU) Copyright Directive legislation championed by content creators and publishers, but decried by tech behemoths. The directive will have to go through more committee discussions and another parliamentary vote before it can become law, but this doesn't mean the polarizing legislation isn't already making in-house counsel nervous.

Features

Issues in Using Bots to Send Takedown Notices Image

Issues in Using Bots to Send Takedown Notices

Ian Lopez

We asked University of Idaho College of Law Professor Annemarie Bridy, one of the forefront experts in both DMCA and automated notice sending, about out of control bots, DMCA takedowns' potential threat to freedom of speech and more.

Features

Fair Use, First Sale and Marilyn Monroe Image

Fair Use, First Sale and Marilyn Monroe

Robert W. Clarida & Robert J. Bernstein

Recently, the Southern District of New York resolved a question that neither the Southern District nor the Second Circuit had ever squarely faced: Can the lawful owner of an art object create and post a photograph of that object in connection with the sale of the object through an online platform such as eBay, without the permission of the owner of copyright in the object?

Features

<i>Decision of Note:</i> Sound Recordings Remasters Don't Get Federal Copyright Protection Image

<i>Decision of Note:</i> Sound Recordings Remasters Don't Get Federal Copyright Protection

Scott Graham

&nbsp;With an assist from Toucan Sam and Tony Bennett, owners of pre-1972 sound recordings no longer have to worry about losing their common law…

Features

<i>Commentary:</i> Amended Opinion No Cause for Alarm in 'Blurred Lines' Case Outcome Image

<i>Commentary:</i> Amended Opinion No Cause for Alarm in 'Blurred Lines' Case Outcome

Robert J. Bernstein & Robert W. Clarida

Over the summer, a divided panel of the Ninth Circuit affirmed the denial of a new trial motion and an order denying rehearing <i>en banc</i> in <i>Williams v. Gaye.</i> We now consider whether the final affirmance of the jury verdict in favor of Marvin Gaye's heirs is likely to wreak havoc on musical creativity as some, including the dissent, have argued. For us, the short answer is no.

Need Help?

  1. Prefer an IP authenticated environment? Request a transition or call 800-756-8993.
  2. Need other assistance? email Customer Service or call 1-877-256-2472.

MOST POPULAR STORIES

  • Coverage Issues Stemming from Dry Cleaner Contamination Suits
    In recent years, there has been a growing number of dry cleaners claiming to be "organic," "green," or "eco-friendly." While that may be true with respect to some, many dry cleaners continue to use a cleaning method involving the use of a solvent called perchloroethylene, commonly known as perc. And, there seems to be an increasing number of lawsuits stemming from environmental problems associated with historic dry cleaning operations utilizing this chemical.
    Read More ›
  • Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws
    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.
    Read More ›
  • Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin
    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.
    Read More ›
  • Cutting Off the Stream: How United States v. Silver Affects "Stream of Benefits" or "Retainer" Bribery
    Although the court stressed that, by vacating certain of former NY State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's counts of conviction, it was clarifying and not altering the "as opportunities arise" theory, it nevertheless emphasized that this theory requires particularity with respect to the "question or matter" that is the subject of the bribe payor and recipient's corrupt agreement.
    Read More ›