Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

2d Cir. Issues Two Notable Copyright Fair Use Decisions

By Tom McParland
May 01, 2021

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently issued decisions in two closely watched copyright fair use cases involving photographs. In the first, the Second Circuit decided that Andy Warhol did not make fair use of a photographer's copyrighted image of the iconic musician Prince, in a ruling that fine-tuned that court's precedent relating to "transformative" works and cautioned trial judges to refrain from the role of art critic.

Warhol's Prince Series

The ruling in The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts Inc. v. Goldsmith, 19-2420 (2d Cir. 2021), from a three-judge panel of the Manhattan-based appeals court, reversed a trial court decision in finding that Warhol's famous series of 16 silkscreen works had infringed Lynn Goldsmith's copyright for her 1981 photograph portraying Prince in black and white.

The case garnered significant interest for its possible effect on thousands of Warhol works that the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts had licensed across the globe. A Southern District of New York federal judge ruled in 2019 that Warhol's artwork had transformed Goldsmith's original photograph by shifting the perception of Prince from a "vulnerable human being" into an "iconic, larger-than-life figure."

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • 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

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws Image

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.

The Article 8 Opt In Image

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.

Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin Image

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.

Removing Restrictive Covenants In New York Image

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?

Legal Possession: What Does It Mean? Image

Possession of real property is a matter of physical fact. Having the right or legal entitlement to possession is not "possession," possession is "the fact of having or holding property in one's power." That power means having physical dominion and control over the property.