Columns & Departments
Upcoming Event
TexasBarCLE 31st Annual Entertainment Law Institute and Entertainment Law 101 Program, Nov. 17-19.
Features

California Federal Court Sorts Out Ownership Issues In Dispute Over Record Albums
Approval of all the co-owners of a copyrighted work is needed to grant exclusive rights to third parties. Despite that, any co-owner can sell that co-owner's exclusive ownership share to third parties without the permission of the others The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California recently released an opinion that considered the interplay of these copyright issues.
Features

Proposed Changes In UCC Address Virtual Currency Financing
Financial institutions are beginning to accept virtual currencies as collateral for financings. Could this become common for independent film productions and other entertainment industry ventures? This article examines the scope of UCC Article 9 with a focus on virtual currencies, taking into consideration issues of classification and perfection.
Features

Looking At NCAA Allowing Student Athletes to Profit from Publicity Rights
Amidst pressure from sweeping legislation across the country, and still reeling from a major loss at U.S. Supreme Court, the NCAA suspended all rules prohibiting student athletes from profiting off their name, image and likeness.
Features

Newberg, McCabe, Carson Will Preside Over Copyright Claims Board
The U.S. Copyright Office has found some big names for its Copyright Claims Board.
Columns & Departments
Bit Parts
N.Y. Federal Court Rules State's Anti-SLAPP Statute Doesn't Apply in Federal Court Lawsuits
Columns & Departments
Players on the Move
A look at moves among attorneys, law firms, companies and other players in entertainment law.
Columns & Departments
Upcoming Event
Black Widow, Box Office and Breach of Contract: Profit Participation In COVID
Features

How NY Courts Find Copyright Preemption of State Law Claims
Under §301 of the U.S. Copyright Act, state law claims that are "equivalent" to exclusive rights in copyrights granted by federal law are preempted by the federal statute. To survive preemption, courts consider whether a state law claim in a lawsuit has an "extra element" that qualitatively distinguishes it from a federal copyright claim.
Features

Activision Trial Counsel Discusses Case About Video Game Character
Activision Blizzard and a trial team led by San Francisco-based Durie Tangri partner Daralyn Durie recently faced down a $400 million copyright suit in the Eastern District of Texas. In this Q&A, Durie talks about the strategy and the theatrics of the four-day trial.
Need Help?
- Prefer an IP authenticated environment? Request a transition or call 800-756-8993.
- Need other assistance? email Customer Service or call 1-877-256-2472.
MOST POPULAR STORIES
- Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright LawsThis 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 ›
- A 'Cloud Security Doctrine' for Law FirmsCloud computing may be here to stay, but is it truly safer than the solutions that it's outmoding? The Legal Cloud Computing Association (LCCA) thinks there's a path to greater security, publishing for law firms its first "Cloud Security Doctrine."Read More ›
- Artist Challenges Copyright Office Refusal to Register Award-Winning AI-Assisted WorkCopyright law has long struggled to keep pace with advances in technology, and the debate around the copyrightability of AI-assisted works is no exception. At issue is the human authorship requirement: the principle that a work must have a human author to be eligible for copyright protection. While the Copyright Office has previously cited this "bedrock requirement of copyright" to reject registrations, recent decisions have focused on the role of human authorship in the context of AI.Read More ›
- IP NewsFederal Circuit: PTAB Did Not Err In Finding That It Retained Authority to Issue Final Written Decision After Deadline Passed Federal Circuit: District Court Did Not Err In Finding That an Abbreviated New Drug Application Is Limited to the Uses Described ThereinRead More ›
- The Article 8 Opt InThe 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.Read More ›