"Potentially Monumental" Ninth Circuit En Banc Decision in Infringement Case Over Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven"
April 01, 2020
For the past five years, the copyright bar and the music industry have carefully followed the many twists and turns of the potentially monumental infringement case that asserted that the opening of the iconic Led Zeppelin song "Stairway to Heaven" was copied from the introduction of a little-known 1967 instrumental "Taurus," written by the late Randy California. In March 2020, a unanimous en banc panel of the entire Ninth Circuit affirmed portions of a prior three-judge appellate ruling that "Stairway" did not infringe the Spirit song — and in the process resolved some thorny issues involving substantial similarity and copyright scope that will be important for future litigants
Kozinski Angle In 9th Circuit's Led Zeppelin Ruling
April 01, 2020
Defendants Led Zeppelin and its music labels were the winners in the copyright decision by the Ninth Circuit over the song "Stairway to Heaven." But the estate of songwriter Randy Wolfe (p/k/a California) wasn't the only one who got the short end. Among the collateral damage from the ruling was a 2002 precedent written by former Chief Judge Alex Kozinski that endorsed the so-called "inverse-ratio" rule.
CASE Act Explained
April 01, 2020
The Copyright Alternative in Small Claims Enforcement Act is a proposed congressional amendment to the current copyright statute that would create an alternative dispute resolution program for copyright small claims and other legal proceedings.
Bit Parts
April 01, 2020
Los Angeles Federal Judge Tosses Out Jury's Infringement Verdict Against Katy Perry in "Dark Horse" Song Case
Sales Agreement for Film Assets of Distributor in Bankruptcy Doesn't Affect Separate Lender for One of Debtor's Movies
Key Provisions in Film Location Agreements
March 01, 2020
Property owners granting production companies access to their properties seems like a no-brainer — who wouldn't want their property featured in that next big blockbuster movie or hit television series? However, when filming occurs on private property, a location agreement is a must, from the perspectives of both the production company and the property owner.
Swedish Music Industry Views: Part Two
March 01, 2020
Among other things, the article discusses the Swedish music industry perspective on the European Union's Copyright Directive, the growth of multi-country music licensing hubs and the impact of Brexit.
Morals Clause in Spotlight in Smiley/PBS Litigation
March 01, 2020
A lawsuit involving the Public Broadcasting Service and former TV host Tavis Smiley has created the kind of drama that would make the cast of Downton Abbey blush. This is because the litigation centers on an alleged breach of the "morals clause" included in the agreement that gave rise to the Tavis Smiley talk show.
