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[…]
Robots as Artists and Inventors Traditional Intellectual Property relies on the notion that humans are the source of innovation and artwork. What happens when a computerized robot becomes an inventor, an author or an artist? What happens when a human uses a computer with artificial intelligence to develop an invention or work of art? Is Read more about Will Artificial Intelligence Impact Inventors and Artists?[…]
In today’s intellectual property law update, the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) announced that their electronic system will again be down for maintenance for the entire weekend. Strike 3 Holdings, a prolific adult movie producer, who filed almost 2,000 copyright infringement lawsuits last year, has seen more of its copyright lawsuits dismissed for Read more about Intellectual Property Law Update[…]
One of my favorite quotes goes something like this, “always be yourself, unless you can be Batman, then be Batman.” Well, when it comes to copyrighting weeds, I would rather be Batman. Copyright Lawsuit In a recent Copyright Case, an artist sued the Batman actor, Val Kilmer, for stealing his golden weeds. Specifically, tumbleweeds. The Read more about Who wins, Batman or Copyright?[…]
Copyright Registration Since 1978, registering a work of art for copyright protection is no longer required. While a registration is not required, a copyright registration does provide enhanced rights, including the right to collect monetary damages. Under federal law, a timely registered copyright allows the author of the work to collect damages which are provided Read more about 101 Series – How to Prepare a Copyright Application[…]
U.S. Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that Copyright Registrations are required prior to filing a Copyright Infringement lawsuit in Fourth Estate Public Benefit Corp. v. Wall-street.com, LLC, No. 17-571, 586 U.S. ___ (March 4, 2019). This settles the division between the circuits in which some courts allowed an infringement action Read more about Copyright Registration Required[…]
Copyright Law: Distinguishing Between Musical Works and Sound Recordings In general terms, copyright protection extends to “original works of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression.” Pursuant to Section 102 of the federal Copyright Act (“the Act”), works of authorship include, among other categories: Musical works, including any accompanying words; and Sound recordings. As Read more about Music Copyright Law: “Musical Works” and Sound Recordings[…]
Stuffed miniature mascots in cheerleading uniforms. Monthly calendars featuring cheerleaders. Clothing designed to mimic cheerleading uniforms. What do all of these have in common? They are sold in university gift shops and, under the Supreme Court’s latest decision on cheerleading uniforms, they are likely infringing works. The US Supreme Court recently ruled that fashionable 2-D and 3-D Read more about Go, Fight, Win: SCOTUS Says Cheerleading Uniforms Are Functional AND Creative[…]
The Metropolitan Museum announced access to nearly 400,000 images – for free. The Museum provides these images under an Open Access license for all public-domain works in the Met collection. The Creative Commons Zero (“CC0”) license allows use of the images without restriction. Entrepreneurs, artists, and business owners can now use and share these images Read more about Free Use Images[…]
As an Intellectual Property Law firm, we are constantly being asked about the types of intellectual property. Many people know that they want their intellectual property (ie., inventions, ideas, art, writing, etc.) protected, but they are unsure as to what type of intellectual property protection they need. The Intellectual Property Center is here to help. Read more about Your Intellectual Property Questions Answered[…]