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Copyright, Fair Use & AI

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, the intersection of copyright law and AI technology presents unique challenges and opportunities. This seminar aims to explore the complexities of copyright issues related to AI and provide a summary of the dozens of AI copyright lawsuits with a particular focus on whether training AI on copyright material is an infringement or fair use.

Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Open Educational Resources (OER)

American University’s Washington College of Law, along with other academic contributors, has launched the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Open Educational Resources (the Code). This forty-plus page report, the goal of which is to assist professors, teachers, librarians, and other educators in evaluating when and how they can incorporate third party copyright […]

New Legislation: The CASE Act

The Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act (CASE Act) was passed by Congress on December 21, 2020 and signed into law on December 27, 2020 as a part of a much bigger omnibus spending bill. What Is It? The CASE Act creates a “Copyright Claims Board” (the Board) within the U.S. Copyright Office which can […]

Stanford Copyright & Fair Use – Key Overview Updates

Q: Thank you for updating the copyright overview on this site. What are the most important changes that you want us to know? A: Because the update reflects changes from 2014 through 2016 it includes a few decisions that readers may be familiar with such as the Google book scanning decision (Author’s Guild v. Hathitrust, […]

How much of a photo do you need to alter to avoid copyright infringement? Hint: Cheshire Cat

Bloggers and artists often ask, “how much of a photo do you need to alter to avoid copyright infringement?” Five changes? Fifteen? The Seventh Circuit addressed the issue in the Kienitz v Sconnie Nation case recently. According to the court, Sconnie Nation made t-shirts displaying an image of Madison Wisconsin mayor Paul Soglin, using […]

Guidance on websites and copyright registration from the U.S. Copyright Office

As part of its new draft Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, Third Edition, we have guidance on registration for websites. The draft of the full compendium is over 1200 pages and covers publication, recordation, notice, deposits, along with other topics. Members of the public may make comments anytime before (or after) the Third Edition […]

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Copyright Case Opinion Summaries

Source: Justia Daily Opinion Summaries (feed)

Thaler v. Perlmutter

Published on: March 18, 2025

A computer scientist, Dr. Stephen Thaler, created an artificial intelligence system called the “Creativity Machine,” which autonomously generated an artwork titled “A Recent Entrance to Paradise.” Dr. Thaler submitted a copyright registratio…

Design Gaps, Inc. v. Shelter, LLC

Published on: March 3, 2025

Jason and Kacie Highsmith hired Shelter, LLC to manage a home renovation project and later contracted with Design Gaps, Inc. to design and install cabinets and closets. The contracts required arbitration for disputes but did not specify comp…

AQUARIAN FOUNDATION, INC. V. LOWNDES

Published on: February 3, 2025

Aquarian Foundation, Inc., a non-profit religious organization, alleged that Bruce Lowndes infringed on its copyrights by uploading spiritual teachings of its late founder, Keith Milton Rhinehart, to various websites. Lowndes claimed he had …

Designworks Homes, Inc. v. Columbia House of Brokers Realty, Inc.

Published on: January 14, 2025

Charles James, a home designer, claimed that real estate agents infringed his copyrights by including floorplans of his homes in resale listings. James designed a home with a triangular atrium and stairs, built six homes using the design, an…

TANGLE, INC. V. ARITZIA, INC.

Published on: January 14, 2025

Tangle, Inc. holds copyright registrations for seven kinetic and manipulable sculptures made from 17 or 18 identical, connected, 90-degree curved tubular segments that can be twisted or turned 360 degrees. Aritzia, Inc. owns and operates ret…

Copyright Case Dockets

Source: Justia Dockets and Filings (feed)

Morgan et al v. 918 Fully Involved, Inc. et al

April 18, 2025

Filed: April 18, 2025 as 4:2025cv00192

Plaintiff: Gage Morgan and Andrew Chamberlain

Defendant: 918 Fully Involved, Inc., Dustin Fletcher and Sterling Matthew Condry

Cause Of Action: 17 U.S.C. § 101 Copyright Infringement

Court: Tenth Circuit › Oklahoma › U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma

Type: Intellectual Property › Copyright

Affordable Aerial Photography, Inc. v. NYP Holdings, Inc.

April 18, 2025

Filed: April 18, 2025 as 1:2025cv03258

Plaintiff: Affordable Aerial Photography, Inc.

Defendant: NYP Holdings, Inc.

Cause Of Action: 17 U.S.C. § 501 Copyright Infringement

Court: Second Circuit › New York › U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Type: Intellectual Property › Copyright

DASSAULT SYSTEMES SOLIDWORKS CORPORATION v. PRIME ENGINEERING INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS LLC et al

April 18, 2025

Filed: April 18, 2025 as 1:2025cv00756

Plaintiff: DASSAULT SYSTEMES SOLIDWORKS CORPORATION

Defendant: PRIME ENGINEERING INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS LLC, PRIME ENGINEERING INDUSTRIAL AZ LLC, PRIME ENGINEERING AZ L.L.P. and others

Cause Of Action: 17 U.S.C. § 501 Copyright Infringement

Court: Seventh Circuit › Indiana › U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Type: Intellectual Property › Copyright

Innovative Sports Management, Inc. v. Carvajal et al

April 18, 2025

Filed: April 18, 2025 as 1:2025cv11025

Plaintiff: Innovative Sports Management, Inc. doing business as Integrated Sports Media

Defendant: Saul Eduardo Carvajal and Chapa Paisa Inc.

Cause Of Action: 17 U.S.C. § 501 Copyright Infringement

Court: First Circuit › Massachusetts › U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Type: Intellectual Property › Copyright

SURESH v. METRO EXHIBITS, LLC

April 18, 2025

Filed: April 18, 2025 as 2:2025cv02874

Plaintiff: AJAY SURESH

Defendant: METRO EXHIBITS, LLC

Cause Of Action: 17 U.S.C. § 501 Copyright Infringement

Court: Third Circuit › New Jersey › U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

Type: Intellectual Property › Copyright

Copyright Legislation

Source: Copyright.gov (feed)

Copyright Legislative Developments: H.R.791

March 5, 2025

Bill Recently Introduced

H.R.791. Foreign Anti-Digital Piracy Act, introduced 1/28/2025.

To amend title 17, United States Code, to provide for blocking orders relating to specifically identified infringing foreign websites or online services, and for other purposes.

Copyright Legislative Developments: H.R.861

February 28, 2025

Bill Recently Introduced

H.R.861. American Music Fairness Act of 2025, introduced 1/31/2025.

To amend title 17, United States Code, to provide fair treatment of radio stations and artists for the use of sound recordings, and for other purposes.

Copyright Office Issues Notification of Inquiry on Issues Related to Performing Rights Organizations

February 10, 2025

Copyright Office Issues Notification of Inquiry on Issues Related to Performing Rights Organizations

NewsNet 1061
February 10, 2025

Today the Copyright Office published a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) on Issues Related to Performing Rights Organizations. The Office issued this notice in response to a congressional request to gather comments on the increase in the number of performance right organizations (PROs) in the United States and their licensing revenue distribution practices. The NOI solicits public input on these topics and other related questions to assist in their further consideration.

The NOI can be found on the Office’s website. Initial public comments must be received by April 11.

Copyright Legislative Developments: S.5379

December 10, 2024

Bill Recently Introduced

S.5379 TRAIN Act, introduced 11/21/2024.

To create an administrative subpoena process to assist copyright owners in determining which of their copyrighted works have been used in the training of artificial intelligence models.

Copyright Legislative Developments: H.R.10103

November 14, 2024

Bill Recently Introduced

H.R.10103 TRIPS Waivers Act, introduced 11/8/2024.

To amend titles 17, 18, and 35, United States Code, the Plant Variety Protection Act, and the Lanham Act to require the submission of a report to Congress before the negotiation of any international agreement relating to an intellectual property right, and for other purposes.

Copyright Office News

Source: Copyright.gov (feed)

U.S. Copyright Office Invites Public to Webinar on Effectively Using the Copyright Public Records System

April 9, 2025

U.S. Copyright Office Invites Public to Webinar on Effectively Using the Copyright Public Records System NewsNet 1069 April 09, 2025 Have you used the Copyright Public Records System (CPRS) pilot to power your copyright public records searches? Now is the time to try, ahead of the summer 2025 decomm

U.S. Copyright Office Publishes Final Rule to Require Pay.gov Use for Statutory Royalty Payments

March 31, 2025

U.S. Copyright Office Publishes Final Rule to Require Pay.gov Use for Statutory Royalty Payments NewsNet 1068March 31, 2025 The U.S. Copyright Office has published a final rule amending its regulations regarding the submission of royalty fees by cable, satellite, and digital audio recording devices

U.S. Copyright Office Announces Webinar on Copyright Essentials for Musicians

March 20, 2025

U.S. Copyright Office Announces Webinar on Copyright Essentials for Musicians NewsNet 1067March 20, 2025 The U.S. Copyright Office invites you to register to attend a Copyright Essentials three-part series of online webinars, with the second session occurring on April 16 at 1:00 p.m. eastern time. C

Emily Chapuis Appointed Acting General Counsel and Associate Register of Copyrights

March 13, 2025

Emily Chapuis Appointed Acting General Counsel and Associate Register of Copyrights NewsNet 1066 March 13, 2025 Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter today announced that Emily Chapuis will serve as Acting General Counsel and Associate Register of Copyrights at the United States Copyright Office,

Library to Host Copyright Public Modernization Committee Meeting April 3

March 10, 2025

Library to Host Copyright Public Modernization Committee Meeting April 3 NewsNet 1065 March 10, 2025 The Library of Congress issued the following press release: The Library of Congress has announced the next meeting of the Copyright Public Modernization Committee (CPMC) will take place on Thursday,

Copyright Regulations

Source: Justia Regulation Tracker (feed)

Notice - Notice of Intent To Audit

February 18, 2025

The Copyright Royalty Judges announce receipt from SoundExchange, Inc., of notices of intent to audit the 2022, 2023, and 2024 statements of account submitted by commercial webcasters Alpha Media LLC and Univision Communications Inc. concerning royalty payments they made pursuant to two statutory li

Proposed Rule - Determination of Rates and Terms for Digital Performance of Sound Recordings by New Subscription Services and Making of Ephemeral Copies To Facilitate Those Performances (NSS V); Correction

February 10, 2025

On December 19, 2024, the Copyright Royalty Judges published for comment proposed regulations governing the rates and terms for the digital performances of sound recordings by new subscription services and for the making of ephemeral recordings necessary to facilitate those transmissions for the per

Notice - Notice of Intent To Audit

January 14, 2025

The Copyright Royalty Judges announce receipt from SoundExchange, Inc., of notices of intent to audit the 2021, 2022, and 2023 statements of account submitted by commercial webcasters Beasley Mezzanine Holdings, LLC, Hubbard Broadcasting Inc., iHeartMedia, and Midwest Communications, Inc. and non-co

Rule - Ruling on Regulatory Interpretation for Business Establishment Services

January 10, 2025

The Copyright Royalty Judges publish their ruling on regulatory interpretation in a matter that was referred to them by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The regulation at issue is the definition of "Gross Proceeds" in the rates and terms set forth through settlements in

Proposed Rule - Determination of Rates and Terms for Digital Performance of Sound Recordings by New Subscription Services and Making of Ephemeral Copies To Facilitate Those Performances (NSS V)

December 19, 2024

The Copyright Royalty Judges are publishing for comment proposed regulations governing the rates and terms for the digital performances of sound recordings by new subscription services and for the making of ephemeral recordings necessary to facilitate those transmissions for the period commencing Ja

Copyright Blogs

Source: Justia BlawgSearch (feed)

The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit: You Don’t Get a Patent Simply for Using Ordinary AI to Solve Ordinary Problems

April 21, 2025

Brett Trout On April 18, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (the main court for resolving patent issues) issued a significant decision in Recentive Analytics, Inc. v. Fox Corp. (No. 23-2437), affirming the district court’s dismissal of Recentive’s patent infringement claims agai

Why the Patent Office’s Accelerated Patent Issuance Means You Need to Act Faster Than Ever

April 21, 2025

Brett TroutThe United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is once again modernizing its operations—this time by accelerating the timeline for patent issuance. Beginning May 13, 2025, the window between receiving an Issue Notification and the official Issue Date shrunk from roughly three weeks

Photographer Wins Nearly $3K in Small Claims Case

April 21, 2025

The Copyright Claims Board has awarded photographer Martin McNeil nearly $3k in damages after his image was used on social media platforms. The post Photographer Wins Nearly $3K in Small Claims Case appeared first on Plagiarism Today.

YOU DO NOT OWN THIS POST.

April 21, 2025

Originally posted 2013-07-30 16:37:18. Republished by Blog Post PromoterA new lawsuit commenced in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New Yorkâ€”John Johnson (not an alias) et ano. v. Amazon.com, Inc., et al. (including some JOHN DOEs)â€”seems, even at the most preliminary

3 Count: Roblox Dance

April 21, 2025

Apple dance creator sues Roblox, Meta says books have no economic value and Ed Sheeran writes a song about his copyright troubles. The post 3 Count: Roblox Dance appeared first on Plagiarism Today.

Fairly Used Blog

Source: Stanford Copyright and Fair Use Center (feed)

Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Open Educational Resources (OER)

By Cicely Wilson

Published on: June 10, 2021

New Legislation: The CASE Act

By Cicely Wilson

Published on: June 7, 2021

Celebrating the unfreezing of the public domain

By Mary Minow

Published on: January 30, 2019

For the first time in twenty years, published works in the U.S. expired into the public domain. This anomaly was the direct result of the Copyright Term Extension Act that extended the length of copyright for works still in their renewal term at the time of the Act to 95 years. This effectively froze the […]

Stanford Copyright & Fair Use – Key Overview Updates

By Mary Minow

Published on: April 11, 2017

Future of Libraries – Need First Sale for ebooks

By Mary Minow

Published on: February 19, 2017

How will libraries hold onto ebooks and other digital files like mp3s so that readers and scholars in the future can still read them? The current state of affairs relies on license agreements with publishers who in turn license to vendors, who in turn, license to libraries. Hardly sustainable when files can and do disappear […]

Copyright Office Issues Notification of Inquiry on Issues Related to Performing Rights Organizations

NewsNet 1061February 10, 2025

NewsNet 1061
February 10, 2025