What Should the Filing Time Be for Common Law Copyright Infringement Suits?
Rights in pre-Feb. 15, 1972, sound recordings ' which are protected by state law, rather than federal copyright law ' are hotly litigated in the digital music era. On April 17, for example, major record labels sued the music-streaming service Pandora in New York Supreme Court in Manhattan. The suit alleges common-law copyright infringement and unfair competition from Pandora's use of pre-1972 recordings.
Cameo Clips
Actor's Agreement Gave Merchandising Rights to Production Company<br>E-Book of English Translation of Novel Isn't Derivate Work
The Debate About Actors' Ownership of Film Roles
The April issue of <i>Entertainment Law & Finance</i> reported on a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit involving the Internet video <i> Innocence of Muslims.</i> That article discussed the court's "secret" takedown order and the court's view on copyright ownership of acting roles in movies. The article that follows provides further analysis of the copyright ownership issue in the case.
Are University Football Players Employees?
In a move that has surprised many, Chicago-area NLRB Regional Director Peter Sung Ohr has determined that Northwestern University football players who receive grant-in-aid are employees of the University and an appropriate bargaining unit.
Supreme Court Rules on Standing In False Advertising Cases
Until the Supreme Court's recent decision in <i>Lexmark International v. Static Control Components</i>, Inc., courts were divided regarding the proper test to determine whether a plaintiff has standing to bring a false advertising claim under 15 U.S.C. '1125(a). The Supreme Court resolved the circuit split by rejecting the previously applied standards, and created a new, uniform "zone of interests" test.
Update on <i>Authors Guild v. Google Books</i>
Some commentators think the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has already signaled its approval, albeit indirectly, of Google Inc.'s effort to digitize the world's books. After seven years of crusading against Google's book project, the Authors Guild has tapped a new legal team and asked the court for a straight answer.
Bit Parts
Copyright Infringement Damages Not Dischargeable in Bankruptcy <br>Verbal Partnership May Have Existed to Develop MSNBC's <i>The Ed Show</i>
Mob Wives Star's Suit Sparks New Look at NY Publicity Rights
Earlier this year, former <i> Mob Wives</i> TV star Karen Gravano filed a right-of-publicity lawsuit against the makers of the <i>Grand Theft Auto V</i> video game, claiming they misappropriated her image and life story for a character in the popular video game. This case is one more in a string of recent cases raising a significant common question: To what extent does the law protect the rights of content creators to draw on real-life individuals and events to create expressive works?
Consumer Groups Decry FCC's Net Neutrality Proposal
Consumer advocates reacted with dismay to reports that the FCC plans to allow Internet service providers to charge companies a toll for faster access, while FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler defended the proposed rules as consistent with the underlying goals of net neutrality.
Consumer Groups Decry FCC's Net Neutrality Proposal
Consumer advocates reacted with dismay to reports that the FCC plans to allow Internet service providers to charge companies a toll for faster access, while FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler defended the proposed rules as consistent with the underlying goals of net neutrality.
