High Court Finds Easy End to Google’s Copyright Battle

On Monday, the Supreme Court ended a 2005 copyright infringement case between Google and Oracle based on the Copyright Fair Use doctrine. In the ruling, the Court handed Google and software developers a ruling which will have rippling effects for years to come. In the ruling, the Supreme Court ruled that Google’s copying of Oracles Read more about High Court Finds Easy End to Google’s Copyright Battle[…]

Surprising History of Copyright Infringement

The Duchess of Sussex a/k/a Meghan Markle has recently been in the news.  In a recent interview with Oprah, the royal family member and American actress aired personal concerns and conversations within Britain’s royal family.  The interview provided insight for many Americans into the royal family.  However, the Duchess also made the news recently for Read more about Surprising History of Copyright Infringement[…]

In surprise move, Copyright Office can decide Copyright Infringement Cases

COVID Relief includes Copyright provisions Last night, as part of the latest round of COVID relief, Congress enacted new intellectual property regulations within the proposed legislation.  There are almost 100 pages of new intellectual property regulations within the COVID-19 appropriations bill.  The new legislation has not yet been signed by the President.  Based on the Read more about In surprise move, Copyright Office can decide Copyright Infringement Cases[…]

Intersection between Copyright and Trade Secret Protection

When protecting computer code, your failure to properly protect the trade secret can result in a loss of IP rights. If you wish to protect a trade secret, the copyright office allows you to keep portions of the computer code a secre.

Copyright Music

Copyright Music – 101 Series

Copyright music, protects two different types of works. Copyright protects the musical composition (the song) and the sound recording. Depending on your artist agreement, you may have the right to re-record and resale your music.

Iron Man 3 Copyright Infringement claims dismissed

As recently illustrated in the Iron Man 3 Poster Lawsuit, direct evidence of copying is hard to prove in copyright infringement cases. Proof of infringement is often shown by proving: That there is a substantial similarity between the copy and the original; and that the copier had access to the original work.

Copyright

New Copyright Court

New Copyright Court Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Senate version of the Copyright Small Claims Bill.  That bill, known as the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act of 2019 now moves out of committee and will go the floor to be voted on by the full Senate.  An identical companion bill, H.R. Read more about New Copyright Court[…]

Acknowledging Use

Acknowledging Use of a Photograph Many people believe they can use someone else’s work as long at they acknowledge that the work belongs to someone else.  However, using someone else’s photo is not permissible just because they provide credit to the photographer.  If someone has permission to use a photo, then they have permission.  If Read more about Acknowledging Use[…]

Copyright

Photograph Fair-Use

When is use of a Photograph Fair-Use? Copyright Infringement Generally, use of someone else’s photograph is infringement, it is not Fair-Use. Copyright Infringement occurs when someone uses a photograph without the permission of the photographer.  The use can include use on the internet, on a webpage, social media, media, advertisement or marketing use. Copyright Infringement Read more about Photograph Fair-Use[…]

Intellectual Property Law Updates

Intellectual Property Updates

Intellectual Property Law Update Patent Congress released a draft of proposed patent legislation to address the ongoing problem with Subject Matter Rejections, namely, 101 Rejections.  The proposed new patent law proposes that patents should be awarded to: Whoever invents or discovers any useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any useful improvement thereof, may Read more about Intellectual Property Updates[…]