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 Intellectual Property

Courts Demand Detailed Plan For Expedited Discovery In BitTorrent Copyright Infringement Cases

There does not seem to be any decrease in the number of defendants accused of engaging in copyright infringement through the use of BitTorrent, a peer-to-peer file sharing program.  However, courts continue to show a reluctance to give plaintiffs, in those cases, all the tools they wish to use in an effort to squeeze every single […]

Categories
Copyright Cyberspace Headline Intellectual Property

Analyzing New $10 Copyright Infringement Settlement Agreement Emails

Here is a new tactic that I have not yet come across in my practice.  Apparently, lawyers for copyright holders who are “sick and tired” of having their works illegally downloaded for free are working with internet service providers (ISPs) to send emails to alleged infringers with a paragraph that states, “If you click on […]

Categories
Copyright Cyberspace Headline Intellectual Property

Tools For Attorneys Defending Clients Mass-BitTorrent Copyright Infringement Cases

Lately, I have been keeping myself busy working on behalf of individuals who have been targeted as John Does by film companies based on claims of internet copyright infringement.  Typically, my clients have had their internet service providers (ISPs) subpoenaed so that the film companies can scrap personal information attached to the John Does’ IP […]

Categories
Copyright Cyberspace Headline Intellectual Property

Expendables Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Loses Thousands Of Defendants

23,322 defendants were named in what, at the time of filing, was the largest file-sharing copyright infringement lawsuit ever.  It was based on the accusation that those defendants illegally downloaded the movie The Expendables.  However, at least for now, a vast majority of those defendants are free from the reach of the movie’s film studio […]

Categories
Copyright Cyberspace Headline Intellectual Property

Avoid Consequences Of Others’ Copyright Infringement On Your Wi-Fi Network

In our world of increasing online copyright infringement claims, there are more and more people who are being accused of infringing activity who happen to be completely innocent with regards to the accusations.  While it is smart for people to password protect their wireless routers, many fail to do so, which allows anyone to latch […]

Categories
Copyright Cyberspace Headline Intellectual Property

‘What What In The Butt’ Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Gets Dismissed

Compare that video with the South Park parody video, below. South Park displayed that clip in one of its episodes which aired in 2008.  Late last year, Brownmark Films, which produced the original non-parody video, sued Viacom and Comedy Central for airing the clip.  The suit contended that the airing of the parody amounted to copyright infringement. […]

Categories
Copyright Cyberspace Headline Intellectual Property

Pornography Copyright Claims Against Grandmothers and College Students

Pornography.  A lot of people watch it.  A lot of pornography that is watched is not illegally obtained.  However, you can almost be sure that if you are downloading pornography through a BitTorrent client, you obtaining a movie for free that the copyright holder wants you to pay for.  Such an act is illegal. Pornographic […]

Categories
Copyright Headline Intellectual Property

Righthaven Goes On Lawsuit Spree; May End Up Being Sued By Many

A company called Righthaven LLC has been very busy filing lawsuits on behalf of  the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Denver Post based on a claim that others are stealing published information from the papers, which supposedly amounts to copyright infringement.  At last count, Righthaven has filed a total of 275 lawsuits without providing any advance warning to […]