How Defendant's Prior Conduct Can Impact Copyright Cases
November 02, 2017
In the context of a copyright case, a defendant's prior bad acts and prior conduct are more useful to a plaintiff than is typical in civil litigation. In many instances, copyright infringement lawsuits are brought against defendants who have been sued before for infringement, or related misconduct, or who have been the subject of allegations or informal complaints, or who simply have experience in copyright matters.
Adult Use Zoning in New York
November 02, 2017
New York City's 2001 ordinance regulating adult uses has been the subject of litigation for more than 15 years. In September, the Court of Appeals put an apparent end to the litigation by denying reargument of its June decision upholding the ordinance.
Oral Appellate Arguments in 'Blurred Lines' Copyright Case
November 02, 2017
Lawyers for Marvin Gaye's heirs and recording artists Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke were singing past each other in court in October. But it wasn't clear which side was making the most headway with the appellate court.
Update on Protecting IP In China
November 02, 2017
For most global entertainment and media companies, the need to think about how to protect intellectual property in China is an inevitable reality. For a few years, there have been indications that China is willing to be more protective of IP owners' rights. But recent events signal there's still work to be done. These developments highlight that, despite small gains, protecting intellectual property in China can still be a major headache for companies and in-house attorneys.
Bit Parts
November 02, 2017
No Trademark Protection for <i>Dirty Dancing</i> Phrase Used in Financial Services Ad
Surviving the Retail Shift
November 02, 2017
<b><i>Balancing Creative Uses withCo-Tenancy ProvisionsPart Three of aFive-Part Series</i></b><p>The volume of store closings is challenging shopping center owners to evolve. Shopping center owners have responded by finding creative uses for vacant spaces and ways to enhance the customer experience.
Upcoming Events
November 02, 2017
TexasBarCLE 27th Annual Entertainment Law Institute<br>Copyright Society of the South Copyright Year in Review<br>Nashville Bar Annual Entertainment, Sports & Media Law Institute
Children Book Versions of Classic Novels Not Fair Use
October 02, 2017
In 2016, Frederik Colting and Melisa Medina planned to launch a series of 50 children's books, each book summarizing a great novel. They called their colorfully illustrated summaries KinderGuides. In January 2017, the owners of the copyrights to the novels filed a copyright infringement suit against Colting and Medina, resulting in a useful tale for lawyers who advise publishers on either side of such a dispute.