Copyright Law

Photographers File New Suit Against Google Over Book-Scanning Project

Photographers and illustrators who say they were left out of a proposed $125 million settlement by Google concerning its massive book-scanning project have filed suit seeking additional damages. While scanning the books into a searchable database, they contend Google also scanned copyrighted photographs and other images, reports PC Magazine. Among…

Apr 7, 2010 5:21 PM CDT

Judge Orders Artist and His Lawyers to Disclose Deleted Files and the Persons Responsible

A federal judge has ordered artist Shepard Fairey and his new lawyers in a copyright suit to disclose records that were destroyed, when it happened, and the persons responsible. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein ordered the disclosure on Monday in a copyright dispute over Fairey’s right to use an Associated…

Apr 6, 2010 2:03 PM CDT

Takedown Putdown

The Electronic Frontier Foundation recently “honored” National Public Radio, De Beers Diamond Jewellers and Warner Music Group. But chances are that none of the entities is crowing about the accolade because the digital media watchdog group awarded these and others entry into its Takedown Hall of Shame.

Apr 1, 2010 8:00 AM CDT

You Don’t Look a Day Over 299

Happy Birthday, Copyright!

Apr 1, 2010 7:40 AM CDT

Law Profs Explain Why Comics Don’t Sue Over Joke Thefts

Copyright law applies to joke thefts, but comedians rarely invoke legal protections because suits are too expensive and uncertain. One legal barrier is that copyright protects original expression, but not the original idea, according to UCLA law professor Kal Raustiala and University of Virginia law professor Chris Sprigman, writing at…

Mar 31, 2010 6:34 PM CDT

Novell Win in Unix Suit Is Victory for Open Source Advocates

A federal jury in Utah has found that Novell Inc. owns the copyright to the Unix operating system, ending a longtime legal battle with the SCO Group Inc. The Novell victory creates problems for SCO in a related lawsuit against IBM that claims SCO owned Unix code that was improperly…

Mar 31, 2010 4:23 PM CDT

Newzbin Is Liable for Downloading, Court Rules

A United Kingdom court has ruled that Newzbin is liable for material downloaded by users onto its website in violation of copyright law, finding that editors assisted them in flouting the law and routinely did not follow purported Newzbin rules about what could be posted on the site. The website,…

Mar 29, 2010 5:27 PM CDT

Ex-Movie Producer-Turned-IP Lawyer Battles Disney in Superhero Fight

A lawyer who once made the low-budget film Zombie High has a new career as an intellectual property litigator now battling Disney on behalf of the heirs of a comic book artist. Lawyer Marc Toberoff “could be a movie character himself,” the New York Times reports. “Alternately described by lawyers…

Mar 23, 2010 11:20 AM CDT

Google: Viacom Uploaded to YouTube While Complaining About Infringement

In the opening briefs in a case between two media giants that is widely seen as a critical test of the Digital Milennium Copyright Act, each side accuses the other of playing dirty pool in a battle to call the winning shots concerning the use of video materials in the…

Mar 18, 2010 7:51 PM CDT

Ex-Model Files $10M Suit for Comedy Film’s ‘Lascivious Use’ of Her Photo

A former model who says she was horrified to learn her photo was used as a “masturbatory prop” in the comedy Couples Retreat has sued the movie makers for $10 million. The suit by Irina Krupnik says she didn’t learn of the “lascivious use of her photo” until after the…

Mar 12, 2010 2:11 PM CST

Harvard Law Prof Is Helping to Draft Fashion Copyright Bill

In the last few months, fashion houses Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen have accused Steve Madden of ripping off their shoe designs and filed suit. But they face an uphill battle in court, because the U.S. lacks a fashion copyright law. Sen. Charles Schumer—along with Harvard law professor Jeannie Suk—is working…

Mar 8, 2010 11:23 PM CST

Harvard Law Prof Nesson on the Hook for Motion Cost in Downloading Trial

Some pro bono litigation could prove costly for Harvard law professor Charles Nesson. Nesson led the defense for graduate student Joel Tenenbaum, who was ordered to pay $675,000 for unlawfully downloading 30 songs on the Internet. Now Nesson may be on a hook for some of the record companies’ legal…

Mar 8, 2010 3:39 PM CST

Mom Scores Small Win Over Music Label in YouTube Toddler Video Case

A mom who whose home video of her toddler dancing to Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” got her in trouble with Universal Music Group has won a partial summary judgment against the music label. Four months after the video went up, the music label ordered YouTube to take the video down,…

Mar 1, 2010 5:25 PM CST

Ring-a-Ding

We’ve all gotten a chuckle when a cell phone blares a ringtone at a meeting or in a quiet elevator, but does that scenario constitute a public performance?

Mar 1, 2010 10:20 AM CST

Injured Luger Considers Suit, While Father of Killed Olympian Dismisses the Idea

The father of the Olympic luge athlete killed in an accident last week is dismissing the idea of a lawsuit. But a luger injured in a November accident is considering the possibility. Georgian athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili died in a training accident Feb. 12. His father, David Kumaritashvili, bristled when a…

Feb 19, 2010 2:46 PM CST