Categories
Copyright

You Need A Copyright Registration Before Filing A Lawsuit, And Supreme Court Explains What That Means

What do you need in place prior to bringing an action for copyright infringement? That specific question was decided by the United States Supreme Court in the case of Fourth Estate Public Benefit Corp. v. Wall-Street.com, LLC, et al.

Categories
Copyright

Costs In A Copyright Case Can Be Collected, But They Are Limited By Statute

Copyright infringement lawsuits must be brought in federal court. These cases are often filed by lawyers who not only think their clients can score a sizable judgment, but also have the opposition cover legal fees and costs. However, a new United States Supreme Court decision places a limit on what a prevailing party can actually […]

Categories
Copyright Right of Publicity

No One Can Own A Dance Step, Says Fortnite Publisher In 2 Milly Lawsuit

Is it true that no one can own a dance step? That is what video game publisher Epic Games is arguing in a motion to dismiss that it filed on February 11 in a federal case that was brought by Terrence “2 Milly” Ferguson.

Categories
Copyright

Supreme Court Set To Decide When A Copyright Case Can Be Filed Once And For All

The U.S. Supreme Court is not only looking at an interesting trademark case, but also a copyright concern that has the potential to have a major impact on copyright infringement litigation.

Categories
Copyright

Use Of VPNs Could Be Considered Copyright Infringement

Virtual private networks (“VPNs”) and other blocking proxies allow users to hide their IP address in order to make themselves appear to be in another country. People do this in order to access content not otherwise accessible in their country. For instance, Netflix provides different shows and movies depending on the country in which one […]

Categories
Copyright Entertainment Law

The Importance of Music Publishing Companies

Music publishing companies are extremely valuable to the future of recording artists and groups in the music industry. Most artists are typically concerned about securing their first major recording deal with a top label; as a result, they fail to see the importance behind obtaining or forming a publishing company. There are many record labels […]

Categories
Copyright Cyberspace Headline Intellectual Property

Internet Service Providers Considering New Graduated Response To Copyright Infringement

The Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act (OCILLA), also known as DMCA 512 was passed in 1998 as part of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). OCILLA is also known as the “Safe Harbor” provision in the DMCA, which shields internet service providers (ISPs) from being forced to pay any monetary damages as a result of […]

Categories
Copyright Headline Intellectual Property

Copyright Infringement Subpoena: To Challenge Or Not To Challenge

In order for a copyright holder to get personal information of someone whom is considered to be illegally infringing the copyright, the copyright holder likely must subpoena the infringer’s internet service provider (ISP).  The person accused of infringing activity has the right to file a motion to quash the subpoena; however, the accused infringer will […]

Categories
Copyright Cyberspace Headline Intellectual Property

Nude Nuns Drop Their Guns, Dismiss Copyright Infringement Case

The most active group of movie producers in the realm of litigating apparent copyright infringement in 2011 seems to be producers of pornographic material.  I have no hard evidence that this is the case, but from the sheer amount of cases I hear about, including some demand letters that clients have brought to my attention, […]

Categories
Copyright Cyberspace Headline Intellectual Property

Makers of Hurt Locker Suing Over 24,000 Illegal Downloaders

Last week, I wrote about a lawsuit filed by the United States Copyright Group (USCG) on behalf of Nu Image regarding the supposed illegal downloading of Nu Image’s The Expendables movie.  At the time, the lawsuit was the largest file-sharing copyright infringement lawsuit based on the number of defendants (23,322).  That record did not last […]