Cultural Icons Spawn Lawsuits Worth Close Looks
November 01, 2019
The ownership of intellectual property rights can be at the core of legal disputes involving pop culture icons. Considering the goodwill, effort and money spent in building a brand, character or commercial impression, it is not surprising that parties to intellectual property agreements find themselves revisiting their arrangements over time. That is what is happening in two recent federal lawsuits, one in New York involving a beloved figure in Philadelphia sports and the other in California focused on the Old Spice cologne commercial jingle.
Players on the Move
November 01, 2019
A look at moves among attorneys, law firms, companies and other players in entertainment law.
Bit Parts
November 01, 2019
Sixth Circuit Agrees Non-Party Interview Quotes Are Inadmissible Hearsay for Purpose of Establishing Direct Evidence of Copying in Infringement Case over Classic Rock Song "Gimme Some Lovin'"
Transformative Use Defense Defeats Hard Rock Hamilton Persona Suit over Gears of War Character
Upcoming Events
November 01, 2019
TexasBarCLE 29th Annual Entertainment Law Institute
Annual Entertainment, Sports & Media Law Institute
Copyright Year in Review
IP News
October 01, 2019
Penn State Files Trademark Lawsuit against Sports Beer Brewing Company
Can OSU Trademark the Word "The"?
Analysis of Warhol Art Fair Use Ruling
October 01, 2019
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York held that a series of silkscreen paintings and prints by Andy Warhol based on a photograph of music legend Prince taken by Lynn Goldsmith constituted a transformative fair use.
Lawyers Win Contingency Fee Fight Against Estate of Blues Icon's Son
October 01, 2019
There have been disputes over rights to the two existing photographs of blues icon Robert Johnson as well as over who was his rightful heir. The latest court decision involves a contingency fee agreement originally entered into by a law firm hired by Johnson's son, who died in 2015. The case offers an example of what rights counsel may gain from such an arrangement following the death of the signatory client.
9th Circuit Says End Steinbeck Copyright Fight
October 01, 2019
In a nearly half-century-long legal dispute over the rights to John Steinbeck's works, the Ninth Circuit affirmed a district court's $5 million compensatory damages award against the author's daughter-in-law but vacated punitive damages against the heir.
Book Publishers' Lawsuit Against Amazon's Audible
October 01, 2019
A coalition of publishers has sued Audible, the Amazon-owned audiobook company, over a new feature announced last summer that will display the text of a book to listeners while it's read to them by their device.
Star Athlete's Trainer Loses Commission Bid
October 01, 2019
A lawsuit alleging a former trainer was entitled to a portion of tennis star Naomi Osaka's lifetime earnings is out of play, after a Broward County, FL, Circuit Court judge dismissed the case.