Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

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

Home Topics

Litigation

Features

<b><i>Suing Led Zeppelin</b></i> Can a Copyright Infringement Plaintiff Rewrite Rock and Roll History? Image

<b><i>Suing Led Zeppelin</b></i> Can a Copyright Infringement Plaintiff Rewrite Rock and Roll History?

Christopher P. Bussert & James A. Trigg

This article examines the allegations of Spirit that Led Zeppelin copied the introductory descending guitar figure in "Stairway to Heaven" from its 1968 instrumental, explains why the suit is not stale despite being brought 42 years after the release of "Stairway," and discusses the challenges that the plaintiff must overcome if he is to prevail in the litigation.

Columns & Departments

Bit Parts Image

Bit Parts

Stan Soocher

Arbitration Provision Read Into SAG-AFTRA Limited Exhibition Agreement<br>DVD Cover Photo Included In News Reporting Was Fair Use

Features

Anti-Waiver Arguments and Enforcement of Forum-Selection Clauses Image

Anti-Waiver Arguments and Enforcement of Forum-Selection Clauses

Fredric A. Cohen & Allison R. Grow

Anti-waiver provisions in state franchise acts have traditionally been used to trump the venue designated in the franchise agreement and to successfully transfer venue to the franchisee's home state. However, a recent decision from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan has added weight to a small but growing body of cases enforcing forum-selection clauses against franchisees that operate in states with franchise acts containing anti-waiver provisions.

Features

<i>Aereo</i>: The Uncertain Limits of What the Supreme Court Decided Image

<i>Aereo</i>: The Uncertain Limits of What the Supreme Court Decided

Mitchell Zimmerman

On June 25, 2014, a 6-3 majority of the U.S. Supreme Court held that Aereo's streaming service ' which allowed customers to view over-the-air TV broadcasts via the Internet ' violated the broadcasters' public performance right under the Copyright Act. Applying what the dissent derided as "an improvised standard ('looks-like-cable-TV')," the majority held that Aereo infringed copyrights owned by the television networks.

Features

<i><b>BREAKING NEWS</i></b>Fourth Circuit Strikes Virginia's Same-Sex Marriage Ban Image

<i><b>BREAKING NEWS</i></b>Fourth Circuit Strikes Virginia's Same-Sex Marriage Ban

Zoe Tillman

A divided federal appeals court on July 28 ruled that Virginia's ban on same sex marriage is unconstitutional.

Features

Redaction: What You Need to Know Image

Redaction: What You Need to Know

Sue Hughes

While the term <i>redaction</i> is well known in the legal community and government agencies, the term itself is new to those not in the fields mentioned above. Because of improper redaction making its way into the headlines, more and more people are seeing the term.

Columns & Departments

Case Notes Image

Case Notes

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

An in-depth look at several key rulings.

Features

Arbitrating Against Non-Signatories Image

Arbitrating Against Non-Signatories

John Dellaportas

Arbitration is a creature of contract, made between consenting parties. As such, it is generally thought that those who have not signed an arbitration agreement cannot be compelled to arbitrate. While that is often the case, like most legal rules, it has its exceptions. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has recognized five of them.

Features

S. Ct. Resolves 'Raging' Debate Over the Use of the Laches Defense Image

S. Ct. Resolves 'Raging' Debate Over the Use of the Laches Defense

Andrew Pequignot

The Supreme Court in <i>Petrella v. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.</i>, recently resolved a split amongst the circuit courts in a 6-3 decision, holding that the equitable doctrine of laches could not be invoked to preclude a claim for damages within the statute of limitations for copyright cases.

Features

Mobile Devices and Applications that Matter to Attorneys Image

Mobile Devices and Applications that Matter to Attorneys

David Carns

Since the introduction of the Blackberry in the late '90s, mobile computing has been making communication easier for attorneys and their clients. While initial technologies were limited in their capabilities, much has changed in the past 15 years and today's mobile technologies have become a no-compromise solution for attorneys on the go.

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

  • 'Customary Operations' or A Vacant Building?
    Many times, courts are faced with the question of whether a loss location is 'vacant' under a commercial property policy when trying to determine if the building owner or lessee is conducting customary operations. This article explores various decisions across the United States as to what is considered 'customary operations,' thereby rendering the property 'vacant.'
    Read More ›
  • Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough
    There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.
    Read More ›
  • Authorship and Copyright In Hybrid AI-Human Collaborative Works
    The United States Copyright Office recently issued a letter ruling on the copyrightability of Kristina Kashtanova's comic book-like work, Zarya of the Dawn. The Kashtanova ruling indicates that the Copyright Office's determination of copyrightability of works involving use of AI will rely on whether the author is able to control and foresee with some measure of predictability the output of the authorial process
    Read More ›