Articles
Copyright Registration
Intellectual Property Copyright
Copyright is a form of protection provided by federal law that gives authors of “original works of authorship” certain exclusive – CONTINUE READING
Copyright Notice and Protection
U.S. copyright laws give protection to authors and artists for “original works of authorship.” Such works include literary and – CONTINUE READINGFair Use and Other Exceptions to the Enforcgement of Copyright Law
Copyright protection in the U.S. has existed since the formation of the Constitution, and coverage has continually been – CONTINUE READING
Copyright Issues
Rosa Parks Sues OutKast Over Song Title
In December 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal by the hip-hop duo OutKast and their record label – CONTINUE READING
Controlling the Commercial Use of a Celebrity’s Identity
Generally, copyright and trademark laws protect the exclusive rights of an original author in the commercial value of their – CONTINUE READINGFair Use
The Changing Face of Fair Use
Fair use is a principle of copyright grounded in the idea that the public is entitled to use excerpts of copyrighted materials – CONTINUE READING
Fair Use in the Digital Age – Authors Guild v. Google Books
Authors Guild v. Google Books is a seminal decision regarding application of the fair use doctrine in the digital age. Starting – CONTINUE READINGGoogle Grapples with Fair Use & Market Harm Once Again
Over the years, Google has asserted the fair use doctrine in more than one lawsuit as a defense to using copyrighted material – CONTINUE READINGThe Facts
In 2005, Google began developing its Android mobile operating system. However, to use Java (the preferred programming – CONTINUE READINGHow Market Harm Prevents Google from Successfully Asserting Fair Use
After finding that Google’s use was not transformative because Google did not alter the Java code with “new expression – CONTINUE READINGTrademark
The Abercrombie Formulation: Generic, Descriptive, Suggestive, Arbitrary and Fanciful Marks
The Lanham Act, the federal trademark statute, protects marks that perform sourceidentifying functions. Specifically, under – CONTINUE READING
Aqua and Mattel’s Lawsuit Regarding “Barbie Girl” Song
Mattel, the manufacturer of the “Barbie” doll, sued a Danish band, Aqua, over their song “Barbie Girl.” The song, among – CONTINUE READINGArbitration
Arbitration of International Commercial Disputes
The general strength and momentum of the international marketplace accentuates the need to have clear rules for the resolution – CONTINUE READING
Websites
Copyright Protection for Your Websites and Blogs
For creators of original content on the internet protection under law can feel inadequate for their electronic intellectual property – CONTINUE READING
Your Websites Terms and Conditions
If you have established a web presence with your own site you face the issue of posting Terms and Conditions appropriate – CONTINUE READING
Life Rights
Legal Consideration For Option/Purchase Of Life Rights
No one owns their life story. Personal facts, historical events, names, ideas and themes cannot be copyrighted. So, for a produce – CONTINUE READING
How The Hurt Locker Case Put Life Rights in the Spotlight
In March of 2010, Master Sgt. Jeffrey S. Sarver sued the makers of the film The Hurt Locker, alleging the movie was based on – CONTINUE READING
Thinking About Contracts
Why Attorneys Want You To Have Contracts
All attorneys want clients —- and all attorney want their clients to have contracts. While the good contract sets out the who – CONTINUE READING
You Don’t Get Something For Nothing
“You get what you paid for,” “there’s no free lunch,” “free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.” At some point, some – CONTINUE READING
Deferred Compensation
For those of you who grew up watching Popeye cartoons, you will remember a character named Wimpy. Wimpy’s favorite line – CONTINUE READING