Paul McCartney's Suit over Songs' Recapture Rights
February 01, 2017
Paul McCartney has long wanted to reclaim ownership of his share of the copyrights to "Love Me Do," "Ticket to Ride" and numerous other Beatles hits he co-wrote with John Lennon. But the unfavorable December 2016 decision by a British judge in a copyright termination dispute involving the 1980's hitmakers Duran Duran raised some doubts — at least in the minds of Sony/ATV Music Publishing and its counsel — about whether the U.S. copyright law rights can supersede valid contracts assigning away musical rights and also prevent Paul McCartney from exercising his termination rights.
New Hockey Team's Trademark Dispute Nothing New
February 01, 2017
What happens in Vegas does not necessarily stay in Vegas. Such was the recent ruling by the USPTO that denied registration of the trademarks "Las Vegas Golden Knights" and "Vegas Golden Knights" to the newest NHL franchise, due to their similarity to Golden Knights of the College of Saint Rose, a mark owned by a small college in Albany, NY.
How Should Noise Ordinance Be Applied to This Music Venue?
February 01, 2017
Noise ordinances are often the bane of live performances venues. A jazz brunch in Miami Beach has sparked litigation between the city and a cafe owner with an interesting twist over the constitutionality of the city's noise ordinance.
A Look at the Trial Against Facebook over Video Game Technology
February 01, 2017
The social networking company is being sued by videogame maker ZeniMax Media, which says Oculus stole its technology. Facebook responded that Zenimax's story is nothing but a "fantasy" by a company that was "embarrassed" and "humiliated." It's worth taking a closer look at how each side is framing the fight.
Bit Parts
February 01, 2017
Failure to Geoblock User Uploads of Movies Isn't Ground for Establishing Personal Jurisdiction Over Web Company<br>Letter of Intent For Production of Film Wasn't Binding<br>Use of Catcalling Footage in Ad Doesn't Result in Viable False Endorsement Claim by Actress
Copyright Office Updates Takedown Notice Agent Registration
January 01, 2017
The Copyright Office has mandated a new procedure for how online service providers — including websites, hosting companies, mobile app publishers and other online services that permit user-generated content — must designate an agent to receive notifications of claimed infringement under the DMCA.
Trademark Board Amends Its Rules of Practice
January 01, 2017
Entertainment and intellectual property practitioners and businesses should take note of these changes, as they directly inform the manner in which these matters will be handled moving forward and could potentially affect outcomes.
Movie Filtering Company Is Told To Shut Down
January 01, 2017
A start-up that provides a technology that filters movies for profanity, violence and other objectionable content has vowed to take a copyright battle against Hollywood all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court after a federal judge granted an injunction blocking its service.
