Category Archives: Copyright Litigation
What is the CASE Act? An Overview of the Proposed Copyright Law Reform
In May of 2019, the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act (CASE Act) was officially introduced in the United States House of Representatives. As members of congress are now returning to Washington, DC for the fall term, this prospective legislation is once again receiving attention. If it is passed into law, the CASE Act… Read More »
Copyright Infringement Lawsuit: Jury Rules that Pop Star Katy Perry “Copied” Hit Song
According to reporting from the Associated Press, a jury based in Southern California has ruled in favor of a songwriter named Marcus Gray and two of his co-authors in a copyright infringement lawsuit. Notably, this legal claim was brought against the music industry giant Capitol Records, pop star Katy Perry, and several other defendants…. Read More »
Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Over Tom Brady Photo Reaches Settlement
According to reporting from World Intellectual Property Review, a professional photographer has settled a copyright infringement lawsuit with Time Magazine and other digital media publishers. The dispute, which garnered national headlines, centered around a picture of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, which displayed on many media sites through embedded tweets. Notably, with this… Read More »
Former Fresh Prince Star Sues the Maker of ‘Fortnite’ for Profiting Off of His Likeness; Claims Rights to the ‘Carlton Dance’
According to reporting from the Miami Herald, actor Alfonso Ribeiro — formerly a star on the hit sitcom ‘Fresh Prince of Bel Air’ — has filed lawsuits against the creators of two popular video games: Fortnite and NBA 2K. In his legal claim, Mr. Ribeiro contends that the companies that made these games are… Read More »
President Trump Signs the Music Modernization Act Into Law
On October 11th, 2018, President Donald Trump signed the Music Modernization Act into law. The legislation — which received overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress — is designed to reform American copyright law to better account for digital streaming. In this article, our top-rated Miami copyright litigation attorneys highlight three of the most important things… Read More »
Three Important Tips to Protect Your Trademark on Social Media
For South Florida businesses, a strong social media presence is a valuable asset. According to data provided by Statista, nearly 80 percent of Americans currently have an active social media account on at least one platform. Just ten years ago, only 20 percent of Americans were on social media. Many businesses are still adjusting… Read More »
Circuit Split: Key Copyright is Headed to the Supreme Court
Recently, the Supreme Court of the United States agreed to hear a case involving a long-standing circuit split on a key copyright law issue. This decision comes after a South Florida company petitioned the court to take up this case last fall. The issue that is at stake in this dispute is relatively straightforward:… Read More »
British Pop Star Ed Sheeran is Facing a $100 Million Dollar Copyright Lawsuit Over Hit Song ‘Thinking Out Loud’
According to reporting from Entertainment Tonight (ET), the holding company that owns the rights to Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’ has filed a $100 million copyright infringement lawsuit against pop star Ed Sheeran. In court documents, the company alleges that Mr. Sheeran copied and exploited key compositional elements of the famous 1970s song…. Read More »
Appeals Court: Monkey Cannot Own Copyright to Famous Selfie
Can a monkey hold a copyright in United States? It may seem like a silly question. However, it is one that recently required an answer at the United States Court of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit Court. On April 23rd, 2018, the Ninth Circuit weighed in on one of the strangest copyright lawsuits that… Read More »
Copyright Law: What is the First Sale Doctrine?
Under United States copyright law, copyright holders have certain exclusive rights. Among other things, copyright owners have the exclusive right to reproduce their protected work, create derivatives of this work, and to distribute the protected work. Of course, these rights are not without limitations and exceptions. At Pike & Lustig, LLP, our experienced West… Read More »