Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%
Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.
Copyright Challenge to 'We Shall Overcome' Proceeds
As 2017 commences, political protest against injustice is as relevant as ever in the United States. At the same time, a lawsuit concerning the copyright rights to the powerful anthem We Shall Overcome may proceed to trial. In November 2016, the case survived a motion to dismiss the copyright infringement claims.
The plaintiffs in the case are the nonprofit We Shall Overcome Foundation (WSOF) and Butler Films LLC (Butler), producers of the 2013 film Lee Daniels'The Butler. Both represent a putative class in their claims against the defendants, The Richmond Organizations Inc. and its subsidiary Ludlow Music Inc. The plaintiffs seek to free the well-known first verse from the civil rights song from the monopoly ownership permitted under copyright law and render the song available to all who wish to channel its powerful message.
In 2015, WSOF requested a synchronization license to use the first verse of the song in a documentary it was producing. The defendants refused, thereby preventing the documentary from being completed. Two years earlier, Butler had difficulty obtaining permission to use the song in its movie, and after rejecting a $100,000 synchronization license, Butler paid $15,000 for a 10-second clip.
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
Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws
This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.
Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin
With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.
The Article 8 Opt In
The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.
Removing Restrictive Covenants In New York
In Rockwell v. Despart, the New York Supreme Court, Third Department, recently revisited a recurring question: When may a landowner seek judicial removal of a covenant restricting use of her land?