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Come take a look at our newly redesigned site. Special thanks to Nick Moline for the major move to wordpress.  Thanks to Jon Silver for much of the updates to content.

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You probably know that the Register of Copyrights testified before Congress last month that we need a new copyright act.  [See The Register's Call for Updates to U.S. Copyright Law Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet (3/20/13) Related Lecture  View Webcast Part 1 | Webcast Part 2] You probably have also noticed the erosion of First Sale as we live [...]

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Even very popular government mandates have opponents, and the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Public Access Policy certainly has its critics. According to the agency, “The NIH Public Access Policy implements Division G, Title II, Section 218 of PL 110-161 (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008). The law states:” The Director of the National Institutes of Health [...]

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Copyright Case Opinion Summaries

  • Enterprise Management Limited, Inc. v. Warrick

    In a copyright infringement case, Enterprise Management Limited, Inc. and Mary Lippitt appealed a summary judgment in favor of Donald Warrick. Lippitt contended, contrary to the district court's holding, she demonstrated a prima facie case of copyright... read more »
  • Righthaven LLC v. Hoehn

    Plaintiff filed separate copyright infringement suits against defendants for posting articles from the Las Vegas Review-Journal online without authorization. In consolidated appeals, the court agreed with the district court that plaintiff lacked standi... read more »
  • Bridgeport Music, Inc. v. Smith

    In 1974, songwriter, recording artist, producer, and performer Tilmon, composed the song “You’re Getting a Little Too Smart.” In 1976, Tilmon assigned all of his rights to the song to Bridgeport Music. In 1997, rapper Rashaam A. Smith a/k/a Esham A. Smith released the song “You & Me,” which, according to Bridgeport, unlawfully contained samples of the composition “Smart.” In 2003, plaintiffs, including Bridgeport, sued for copyright read more »
  • Cariou v. Prince

    Plaintiff sued defendant and the Gagosian Gallery, alleging that defendant's series of paintings and collages infringed on plaintiff's registered copyrights in certain photographs from a book of classical portraits and landscape photographs that plaint... read more »
  • WNET v. Aereo, Inc.

    Two groups of plaintiffs, holders of copyrights in programs broadcast on network television, filed copyright infringement actions against Aereo. Aereo enabled its subscribers to watch broadcast television programs over the internet for a monthly fee. P... read more »

Dockets

  • Malibu Media LLC v. Doe 5 May 22, 2013
    1:2013cv00164 Filed in Indiana Northern District Court Type of Suit: Copyrights Plaintiff: Malibu Media LLC. Defendant: John Doe 5. Judge: Philip P Simon Cause Of Action: Copyright Infringement
  • Killer Joe Nevada, LLC v. Does 1-20 May 22, 2013
    1:2013cv01340 Filed in Colorado District Court Type of Suit: Copyrights Plaintiff: Killer Joe Nevada, LLC. Defendant: John Does 1-20. Cause Of Action: Copyright Infringement
  • Stross v. Zip Realty, Inc. May 22, 2013
    1:2013cv00419 Filed in Texas Western District Court Type of Suit: Copyrights Plaintiff: Alexander Stro. Defendant: Zip Realty, Inc. Cause Of Action: Copyright Infringement
  • Malibu Media LLC v. Doe 12 May 22, 2013
    1:2013cv00166 Filed in Indiana Northern District Court Type of Suit: Copyrights Plaintiff: Malibu Media LLC. Defendant: John Doe 12. Judge: Philip P Simon Cause Of Action: Copyright Infringement
  • Malibu Media LLC v. Doe 9 May 22, 2013
    1:2013cv00165 Filed in Indiana Northern District Court Type of Suit: Copyrights Plaintiff: Malibu Media LLC. Defendant: John Doe 9. Judge: Philip P Simon Cause Of Action: Copyright Infringement
  • Voltage Pictures, LLC v. DOE ADULT SON May 22, 2013
    0:2013cv00867 Filed in Oregon District Court Type of Suit: Copyrights Defendant: DOE ADULT SON. Plaintiff: Voltage Pictures, LLC. Cause Of Action: Copyright Infringement
  • Gregory Slate v. ABC News, Inc., et al May 22, 2013
    13-7080 Filed in D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Type of Suit: Copyrights Plaintiff - Appellant: Gregory Slate. Defendant - Appellee: ABC News, Inc., Disney/ABC International Television, Inc. and ABC News/Starwave Partner.
  • Voltage Pictures, LLC v. Choi May 21, 2013
    3:2013cv00855 Filed in Oregon District Court Type of Suit: Copyrights Defendant: Jim Choi. Plaintiff: Voltage Pictures, LLC. Judge: Michael W. Mosman Cause Of Action: Copyright Infringement
  • Ingenuity13 LLC v. John Doe May 21, 2013
    13-55882 Filed in Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Type of Suit: Copyrights Plaintiff: INGENUITY13 LLC. Defendant - Appellee: JOHN DOE. Movant - Appellant: AF HOLDINGS, LLC.
  • Ingenuity13 LLC v. John Doe May 21, 2013
    13-55884 Filed in Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Type of Suit: Copyrights Plaintiff: INGENUITY13 LLC. Defendant - Appellee: JOHN DOE. Movant - Appellant: JOHN STEELE.

Legislation

Copyright Office

  • Copyright Office Seeks Comments on Resale Royalties
    The Copyright Office has published a Federal Register notice requesting written comments on how current copyright law affects and supports visual artists and how a federal resale royalty right for visual artists would affect current and future practices of groups or individuals involved in the creation, licensing, sale, exhibition, dissemination, and preserv
  • Director of U.S. Copyright Office Announces Priorities, Special Projects for Next Two Years
    Register of Copyrights Maria A. Pallante today made public her office's priorities and special projects through October 2013. The document articulates 17 priorities in the areas of copyright policy and administrative practice, as well as 10 new projects designed to improve the quality and efficiency of the U.S. Copyright Office's services in the 21

News

  • Zuku Equipment Impounded! They Are Being Accused Of Copyright Infringement! - Ghafla!Kenya May 23, 2013
    Zuku Equipment Impounded! They Are Being Accused Of Copyright Infringement!Ghafla!KenyaThe Kenya Copyright Board (KeCoBo) has today impounded equipment used by Zuku to illegally redistribute exclusive content on its cable television platform. In industry lingo, the illegal Zuku act is also known as grey market re-broadcasting piracy. G ...
  • Kim Dotcom might sue Twitter, Google and Facebook over copyright infringement - Raw Story May 23, 2013
    Raw StoryKim Dotcom might sue Twitter, Google and Facebook over copyright infringementRaw StoryInternet mogul Kim Dotcom said Thursday he was considering taking legal action against tech giants such as Twitter, Google and Facebook for infringing copyright on a security measure he invented. Dotcom, who is on bail in New Zealand as US authorities ...'Same
  • NYT dumps a copyright snowfall on startup referencing its work - Ars Technica May 23, 2013
    Business Insider AustraliaNYT dumps a copyright snowfall on startup referencing its workArs TechnicaLast year The New York Times unleashed its vision of digitally native storytelling with "Snow Fall." The piece broke away from standard newsprint-transplanted-to-Web design, offering interactive graphics, videos, and other multimedia integrated into
  • How does copyright work in space? - The Economist (blog) May 23, 2013
    How does copyright work in space?The Economist (blog)CHRIS HADFIELD has captured the world's heart, judging by the 14m YouTube views of his free-fall rendition of David Bowie's "Space Oddity", recorded on the International Space Station (ISS). The Canadian astronaut's clear voice and capable ...and more »
  • Cozen O'Connor's David B Sunshine and J Trevor Cloak explain what fan fiction ... - Mondaq News Alerts (registration) May 22, 2013
    Cozen O'Connor's David B Sunshine and J Trevor Cloak explain what fan fiction ...Mondaq News Alerts (registration)In the Fifty Shades lawsuit, plaintiffs alleged, among other things, that Smash "knowing[ly] and willful[ly] violat[ed] plaintiffs' copyrights in EL James' bestselling novels... by way of the production and distribution o
  • WWE 'entrance-music' copyright suit stays in Texas, court says - Ct Post May 22, 2013
    WWE 'entrance-music' copyright suit stays in Texas, court saysCt PostComposer James D. "Papa" Berg of Irving, Texas, sued the Stamford-based sports-entertainment company in federal court in Dallas in July. He claimed the company was making use of his music without authorization. Berg composed a series of works used as ...and more »
  • Cuomo plays fashion police with Khloe Kardashian, warns of copyright violation ... - Washington Times May 21, 2013
    Zap2it.com (blog)Cuomo plays fashion police with Khloe Kardashian, warns of copyright violation ...Washington TimesALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo won't touch Khloe Kardashian's T-shirt, but he's sent her a letter saying the reality star's logo may be violating copyright law. Cuomo confirmed his administration sent what he called a “pro forma”
  • Let artists, innovators and the public define our copyright system - Washington Post (blog) May 21, 2013
    Let artists, innovators and the public define our copyright systemWashington Post (blog)Congress should permanently legalize cellphone unlocking, jailbreaking, and other uses of digital devices that do not infringe copyrights (as Lofgren's introduced legislation would do). Of course, the content industry will oppose these kinds of reforms.and more »
  • Facebook faces copyright infringement lawsuit over Eminem song - Los Angeles Times May 21, 2013
    The IndependentFacebook faces copyright infringement lawsuit over Eminem songLos Angeles TimesEight Mile Style, which oversees Eminem's portfolio, said in the copyright infringement lawsuit that ad agency Wieden + Kennedy included an Eminem song in the commercial “to curry favor with Facebook by catering to [founder Mark] Zuckerberg's personal ...R
  • 'Copyright trolls' target Minnesotans, accusing them of stealing online porn - Minnesota Public Radio May 20, 2013
    'Copyright trolls' target Minnesotans, accusing them of stealing online pornMinnesota Public RadioAnyone downloading copyrighted porn from third-party sites that offer it for free could be targeted in one of these actions. So could people whose Internet connections are used for illegal downloads, with or without their knowledge. Many people pay ...

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