Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%
Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.
Internet Memes and Intellectual Property Risks
Internet memes ' those attention-getting images, videos, and catchy phrases that whip across the Internet via e-mail and social media ' have long been a part of online culture. But while a corporate strategy of exploiting memes can be highly entertaining and can capture consumers' attention, using these online assets can be risky if intellectual property rights are infringed in their dissemination. If your clients' marketers use Internet memes for corporate purposes, they risk unwittingly infringing the rights of intellectual property owners.
Originally created by consumers for entertainment, Internet memes are becoming popular among corporate marketers. Internet memes exemplify a sort of online pop-culture Darwinism ' survival of the funniest, if you will ' in which the most clever creations are shared across the Web. Memes evolve and spread rapidly, sometimes reaching worldwide popularity overnight. One author may create an image or idea around which other authors create permutations that are, virtually speaking, spread far and wide. Prominent examples include Keyboard Cat (http://playhimoffkeyboarcat.com), Futurama Fry (www.quickmeme.com/Futurama-Fry), Condescending Wonka
(www.quickmeme.com/Condescending-Wonka), Ridiculously Photogenic Guy (http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/ridiculously-photogenic-guy-zeddie-little), Sexy Sax Man (www.tmz.com/person/sexy-sax-man), and various images from the Cheezburger Network (www.cheezburger.com), one of the first websites to popularize Internet memes.
Given the vast popularity of some of the most widely disseminated memes, it is not surprising that corporate marketers increasingly seek to harness this popularity to promote commercial interests. Major brands, including Nike, McDonalds, Cisco and General Motors, are beginning to use them for advertising purposes.
This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only
ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE SINGLE SOURCE OF OBJECTIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS, PRACTICAL INSIGHTS, AND NEWS IN ENTERTAINMENT LAW.
- Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
- Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
- Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts
Already a have an account? Sign In Now Log In Now
For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473
Yachts, Jets, Horses & Hooch: Specialized Commercial Leasing Models
Defining commercial real estate asset class is essentially a property explaining how it identifies — not necessarily what its original intention was or what others think it ought to be. This article discusses, from a general issue-spot and contextual analysis perspective, how lawyers ought to think about specialized leasing formats and the regulatory backdrops that may inform what the documentation needs to contain for compliance purposes.
Hyperlinked Documents: The Latest e-Discovery Challenge
As courts and discovery experts debate whether hyperlinked content should be treated the same as traditional attachments, legal practitioners are grappling with the technical and legal complexities of collecting, analyzing and reviewing these documents in real-world cases.
Identifying Your Practice's Differentiator
How to Convey Your Merits In a Way That Earns Trust, Clients and Distinctions Just as no two individuals have the exact same face, no two lawyers practice in their respective fields or serve clients in the exact same way. Think of this as a "Unique Value Proposition." Internal consideration about what you uniquely bring to your clients, colleagues, firm and industry can provide untold benefits for your law practice.
Risks and Ad Fraud Protection In Digital Advertising
The ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, coupled with the industry-wide adoption of programmatic advertising, poses a significant threat to the effectiveness and integrity of digital advertising campaigns. This article explores various risks to digital advertising from pixel stuffing and ad stacking to domain spoofing and bots. It will also explore what should be done to ensure ad fraud protection and improve effectiveness.
Turning Business Development Plans Into Reality
This article offers practical insights and best practices to navigate the path from roadmap to rainmaking, ensuring your business development efforts are not just sporadic bursts of activity, but an integrated part of your daily success.