Copyright Law

The Push for Royalties From Traditional Radio Stations

A bipartisan bill to compensate artists when their songs are played on FM/AM radio stations instead of just on digital music platforms, is gaining some traction in Congress. It was first introduced in June 2021, although a second bill reintroduced...
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Ed Sheeran Wins Copyright Infringement Case Against the Estate of Marvin Gaye

On May 4, 2023, a New York federal jury concluded that the popular British music artist Ed Sheeran is not liable for copyright infringement after lengthy litigation to settle a lawsuit. It took the jury less than three hours to...
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Starz Sues MGM for Copyright Infringement

Starz Entertainment, LLC Starz filed a lawsuit in May of 2020 with the Los Angeles federal court claiming MGM Domestic Television Distribution, LLC violated copyright interests within two separate agreements. The case results from Starz paying MGM approximately $70 million...
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Copyright Expiration Opens the Door for Winnie-the-Pooh Horror Film

The Winnie-the-Pooh copyright expired in January of 2022, making the characters from that beloved book series available for use by the public. United States copyright laws protect ownership rights for 70 years after the creator's death or 95 years after...
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Can I Copyright a Speech or Poem if it Only Exists as Spoken Word?

Speeches and poems are examples of intellectual property for which a creator can seek out copyright protection from the United States Copyright Office (USCO). Properly following the registration process is the only way to ensure your ownership of a speech...
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Jazz Composer Claims YouTube Protects Only the Most Powerful Copyright Holders

The 2020 copyright infringement lawsuit that jazz composer Maria Schneider filed against YouTube highlights the crucial role that well-crafted entertainment contracts play when accusations continue to fly, and parties ask for summary judgment. California U.S. District Court Judge James Donato...
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Game Company Violated Child Privacy Laws

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) enlists parents in controlling what information companies collect from children online with assistance from the Federal Trade Commission’s enacted regulations. COPPA is codified as 15 United States Code §§ 6501-6506. The Better Business...
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Reservoir Media’s Push to Buy Song Rights

The goal of songwriters and artists has always been to get their music in front of as many people and in as many ears as possible. Sadly, many artists have given little thought to the intellectual property implications of this...
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Everything to Know About the Copyright Small Claims Court

Holding the copyright to written materials grants the owner the ability to protect their property in federal court. Traditionally, this meant pursuing an infringement lawsuit in a United States District Court. While this is still an option, the fact remains...
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Music Copyright Lawsuits Take Aim at New Songs

When Charles Colton coined the idiom “imitation is the sincerest of flattery” in 1820, he couldn’t have foreseen the effect those words have had on recent music copyright litigation. He meant that you could flatter someone by imitating them, but...
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