Category Archives: Copyright Litigation
Copyright Protection Extends to Photography
When we create a work of art or a piece of literature, we generally know that it has some kind of copyright protection. It is (presumably) our own creation, and only we are allowed to profit off of our intellectual works. But photography seems like it should be different. After all, you didn’t create… Read More »
Problems With Online Protection of Copyrighted Material
Online providers of content, whether they be YouTube, video sites, message boards, or social media, have no way of screening every single post, comment, video, picture, or advertisement that may appear on their site. Yet, we know that many characters, songs, logos, or literary work, are protected by intellectual property law. How does a… Read More »
When is Derivative Work A Violation of Someone’s Copyright?
It’s probably obvious that companies that own major properties, such as Marvel Characters, or Star Wars Characters, or characters that appear in popular video games, own the rights to sell, distribute, or license likenesses of those characters. That includes the right to distribute and control what are known as derivative works. A derivative work… Read More »
The Batmobile Case is a Good Lesson in Copyright Protection
Pop culture is everywhere nowadays. With the rise of streaming television, to movies that bring to life comic book and science fiction characters, there has been a rise in collectible goods and artwork that seek to sell to the public images related to beloved TV and movie characters. You don’t have to be a… Read More »
NBA Star LeBron James is Facing a $150,000 Copyright Infringement Lawsuit After Posting a Photo of Himself on Facebook and Instagram
Can you commit copyright infringement by posting a photograph of yourself in social media? The answer is “yes, it is possible”—at least in certain circumstances. According to a report from Sports Illustrated, basketball star LeBron James is currently facing a $150,000 copyright infringement lawsuit after he posted a cropped photograph of himself on his… Read More »
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of North Carolina—States Cannot Be Held Financially Liable for Copyright Violations
On March 23rd, 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States rendered its decision in the case of Allen v. Cooper. In a 9 to 0 verdict, the nation’s highest court ruled that North Carolina cannot be made to pay for violating the copyright of a photographer who documented the salvage of a famous… Read More »
Does Copyright Law Apply to Architectural Designs?
With copyright protection, a creator of a work has the exclusive right to use that work—at least for a certain period of time. When you think of copyright law, the first thing that comes to mind is probably a novel. The author has intellectual property rights over their written work. As such, a third… Read More »
What Damages Can You Seek in a Copyright Infringement Case in Florida?
Federal law gives you certain exclusive rights to create, distribute, reproduce, and sell your works. However, when your copyright rights are infringed, you may be entitled to money damages under the Copyright Act of 1976. A West Palm Beach copyright litigation attorney can help sue the person who used your work without permission. If… Read More »
The Latest Copyright Case Before the Supreme Court: Can Georgia’s Official Annotated Code Receive Copyright Protection?
In December of 2019, the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments in the case of Georgia v Public Resource—the latest major copyright case to go before the nation’s highest court. The key legal issue that is at stake in this case: To what extent does the government edicts doctrine render published… Read More »
Copyright Law: Ask Musicians for Music Act (AM-FM Act) Introduced in Congress
On November 21st, 2019, the Ask Musicians for Music Act (AM-FM Act) was introduced into congress. The bill, which seeks to reform the copyright regulations for terrestrial radio, is backed by a bipartisan group of legislators, including Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) and Jerry Nadler (D-New York). In this article, our experienced Miami copyright litigation attorneys… Read More »
