ALL POSTS
Changes in Antitrust Decrees Lead to Complications in Copyright Lawsuits
While copyright infringement in the music industry is not novel news, it is unusual when an artist is sued for crafting his new music based on inspiration from his former hits. Such is the case with hip-hop artist, Chris Brown, in a copyright lawsuit filed by music...
Indian High Court Holds Copyright is Not a Divine Right
This September, the Delhi High Court in India ruled in favor of Delhi University (DU) photocopying college textbooks from many major publishers on the ground that “copyright . . . is . . . not an inevitable, divine or natural right” in comparison to the value of...
A Game of Stores
The vendors are out on Canal Street, New York City’s notorious hub of counterfeit trafficking. In the heat of the summer shopping season, they are eagerly shouting names like Michael Kors and Louis Vuitton to the commuters walking by. Stores are wide open, showing...
The Right of Publicity in Emojis: Not Such a “Clown Question, Bro”
In a 2012 post-game interview, Washington Nationals superstar Bryce Harper, 19 at the time, responded to a question about whether he would take advantage of Canada’s lower legal drinking age with “That’s a clown question, bro.”[1] Harper sought to trademark the catch...
The Long Credits in Beyoncé’s “Lemonade”
When I discussed sampling on this site in March, I hinted at the frequency with which it pops up in the legal stages that accompany modern music.[1] Sampling, copying a portion of one musical piece into another[2], is a widespread infraction, but when handled the...
Cheerleading in SCOTUS? The Uniforms Could Make It There
Among the more problematic lingering questions of copyright law that has divided circuit courts and resulted in different tests is the issue of “separability.”[1] Now, it could be a suit over cheerleading uniforms that finally brings this question before the nation’s...
Did The People v. O.J. Simpson Just Use the Word @!$#%@# on Television?: The State of Profane Language on Television
I never thought you could swear on public television. Growing up, I remember watching movies or reality television and all of a sudden, I heard a “BLEEEEEEEEEEP” sound pour through the speakers. Many times, the program would even cover the person’s “dirty” lips with...
A Reintroduction to Robert Mapplethorpe
Within the world of fine art, artists have often died before they gained recognition for their artistic talents and creativity. Masters, such as Vincent van Gogh, Johannes Vermeer and Paul Gauguin, created works that were considered ahead of their time either in terms...
The Brave New World of Snapchat Shows: Whose Creations Are They Anyway?
It’s about to get a lot harder to find people who watch the same shows. In recent months, Snapchat, the app formerly only known for disappearing photos, has become a host to a number of new video series.[1] Time limited shows of different genres have taken hold...
Crosswords, Copyright & Compensation
Earlier this month, FiveThirtyEight reported that crossword puzzle aficionados have uncovered possible plagiarism across several widely distributed crossword puzzles.[1] The puzzles, many of which are compiled by crossword editor Tim Parker for USA Today and Universal...