Clik here to view.
Supreme Court Upholds Copyright Protection For Foreign Works
The U.S. Supreme Court decision released this week in Golan v Holder maintained copyright protection for millions of works created by foreign authors. Before 1989, many foreign authors’ works became...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Newt Gingrich Sued Copyright Infringement “Eye of the Tiger”
Newt Gingrich’s campaign makes the news twice in a week for claims of copyright infringement of a song. Rude Music Inc., owned by Frank Sullivan, a co-author of the song “Eye of the Tiger,” filed a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Does Phone Call Equal Song Lyrics? Drake Sued by Ex As Co-Writer of Song
Grammy nominee Drake has been sued by an ex-girlfriend who claims she co-wrote the hit song “Marvin’s Room” and is entitled to part ownership in the copyright in the song; copyright in the sound...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Sir Elton John Sued for Copyright Infringement
Twenty years after Guy Hobbs first thought Elton John’s hit “Nikiti” was lyrically too similar to Hobbs’ poem “Natasha,” Hobbs’ sued John, Bernie Taupin and Big Pig Music in federal court for copyright...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Copyright Renewal Vests in Sony not Roger Miller’s Heirs
For works published or copyrighted prior to January 1, 1978, the sixth circuit court of appeals made a landmark decision holding the copyright renewal term vests in the music publisher when the author...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Copyright First Sale Doctrine Before Supreme Court
The US Supreme Court will decide in Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. if importing and re-selling copyrighted works originally intended only for sale in a foreign territory is protected by the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Entertainment Law Update Podcast: Faulkner, Einstein and Superman
Join music lawyer and music mediator Tamera Bennett and film/tv/theatre lawyer Gordon Firemark for Episode 36 of the Entertainment Law Update Podcast. It’s the podcast by entertainment lawyers for...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Bikram Yoga Protected by Trademark NOT Copyright – It’s Hot!
Get Hot — The US Copyright Office issued a ruling in June 2012 that yoga sequences are not protected by copyright. Studios offering “hot yoga” should now be in the clear from lawsuits brought by Yogi...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Sherlock Holmes, Elementary, Copyright Protection and Trademarks
“It’s elementary my dear Watson, Sherlock Holmes might still have copyright protection.” Not precisely the definitive answer one expects from Sherlock’s reasoning of all things – even the intricacies...
View ArticleClik here to view.
“When The Band Gets Divorced – Mediating The Band Partnership Dispute”
“When The Band Gets Divorced – Mediating The Band Partnership Dispute” 1 hr CLE pending Join attorney/mediator Tamera Bennett at the Belo Mansion at Noon on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 for a discussion...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Pre-72 Sound Recordings not subject to DMCA
Under New York state law a decision issued last week holds pre-1972 sound recordings are not subject to the DMCA safe harbor provisions and Grooveshark is liable for state law copyright infringement of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Copyright Basics FAQ
Copyright FAQ The US Copyright Office has a wealth of information available at their website on the copyright registration process. What is a copyright? Copyright is an original work of authorship...
View ArticleClik here to view.
EMI Entertainment World, Inc. v. Karen Records, Inc. – Who is the right...
EMI Entertainment World, Inc. learned the hard way that making sure you name the correct plaintiff in a lawsuit is pretty important to winning. EMI sued Karen Records, Inc., Karen Publishing, Inc. and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Entertainment Law Update Podcast 42 – For IP Lawyers
Film lawyer Gordon Firemark and music lawyer Tamera Bennett bring you a mid-Summer podcast covering film, tv, trademark, copyright and employment law issues. Click here for the July 2013 Entertainment...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Entertainment Law Update Podcast – Gordon Firemark and Tamera Bennett
Film lawyer Gordon Firemark and music attorney Tamera Bennett co-host the Entertainment Law Update podcast. Episode 44 highlights include the “Happy Birthday” public domain litigation; Marvel comics...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Malcom X Heirs Sue for Copyright Infringement and Injunction
The Heirs of Malcom X sue to stop the publication of key portions of Malcom X’s diaries. While the diaries were donated to the New York Public Library, the family argues no copyright transfer has...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Top Trademark/Copyright/Entertainment Law Posts of 2013
As we say goodbye to 2013, it’s always fun to look back and see what our readers enjoyed. There’s a great mix of trademark, copyright and music publishing cases. Most visited posts in 2013 (no matter...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Sherlock Holmes – Some Copyright, Some Not
In a 10-month-long dispute between the Conan Doyle Estate and writer/editor Leslie Klinger, the trial court ruled 50 of the Sherlock Holmes stories, all published prior to 1923, are in the public...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Entertainment Law Update Podcast – Episode 47
Film/TV lawyer Gordon Firemark and Copyright/Trademark lawyer Tamera Bennett cover a “Motley Crew” of topics this month including trademark, copyright, film and tv legal issues surrounding the...
View Article
