In a recent legal maneuver, the rap group Nappy Roots has requested a Georgia federal judge dismiss a lawsuit alleging copyright infringement. The suit, filed by musicians who claim their sample was used in the popular track “Good Day,” centers on arguments of co-authorship. However, Nappy Roots contend that the claim comes over 15 years…
In a notable development within the realm of intellectual property litigation, a cohort of thirteen prominent book publishers has petitioned a New York federal court to issue a default judgment against Anna’s Archive, commonly regarded as a “shadow library.” The publishers are demanding $19.5 million in damages, asserting that the platform illegally disseminates pirated books…
As litigation intensifies across various sectors, several key trends are starting to draw attention within legal circles. Among them are legal challenges surrounding multilevel marketing practices, controversies over supplement serving sizes, and a growing number of disputes involving digital platforms such as OnlyFans. Multilevel marketing companies are currently facing increased scrutiny over their business operations….
In a legal skirmish that underscores the complex interplay between trademark law and celebrity branding, Taylor Swift has firmly responded to allegations from a Las Vegas performer that her “Confessions of a Showgirl” trademark was infringed. The pop icon argued before a California federal judge that it is the performer who has been leveraging her…
In a Los Angeles federal courtroom, a damages expert representing Artist Revenue Advocates (ARA) testified that Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, owes over $500,000 for allegedly using an unauthorized sound recording in an early version of his Grammy-winning song “Hurricane.” The expert asserted that Ye utilized the track to attract fans to a lucrative…
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is attempting to withdraw from a lawsuit involving accusations of underpayment to a singer for his contributions to the soundtrack of the film “Furious 7.” The legal challenge, filed in a California federal court, alleges that royalties were improperly distributed. SAG-AFTRA and its intellectual…
In a significant legal move, the company operating Course Hero, a prominent academic file-sharing platform, has appealed to a Connecticut federal judge to either initiate a new trial or substantially cut a $75 million verdict. This request comes in response to a jury’s decision, which found that the company had violated the Digital Millennium Copyright…
The Walt Disney Company and director James Cameron are facing legal action over allegations of copyright infringement related to the blockbuster film “Avatar.” The lawsuit, filed in a California federal court, claims that the film’s creators utilized the likeness of indigenous actress Q’orianka Kilcher without her consent to model a main character in the movie….
In a recent court development, renowned artist Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, defended himself in a California copyright lawsuit concerning early versions of his Grammy-winning track “Hurricane.” The trial centers on allegations of unauthorized use of a sound recording. During his testimony, Ye expressed that individuals often seek to “take advantage” of his creative…
The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Cox Communications Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment has stirred significant discussion among legal professionals and copyright law observers. The unanimous ruling, issued on March 25, 2026, affirmed existing protections for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) without altering the landscape of copyright enforcement policies. Central to this case was the…
Nvidia Corp. finds itself at the center of a legal storm as a California federal judge recently ruled on a proposed class action by authors accusing the chipmaker of copyright infringement. While the court dismissed claims of vicarious infringement, it upheld allegations that Nvidia used copyrighted books from online shadow libraries to train its AI…
On Tuesday, DJ Khalil testified in a Los Angeles courtroom regarding a copyright infringement case involving the use of his instrumental track in Ye’s Grammy-winning song “Hurricane.” Initially, DJ Khalil expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, but his optimism waned when financial disagreements arose. Seeking payment from Ye proved futile, prompting him to enlist help from…
The Eleventh Circuit Court has reopened a legal skirmish involving the acclaimed photographer Annie Leibovitz and her ‘Star Wars’ images. Originally captured on the set of a new film in the iconic series, these photographs had found their initial home in Vanity Fair. However, a digital outlet was accused of unauthorized use, leading to an…
A recent lawsuit targeting Mark Zuckerberg brings forth a rare legal approach, focusing on holding an individual executive liable for alleged copyright infringement. The case, spearheaded by five major publishers and acclaimed author Scott Turow, suggests Zuckerberg personally directed the use of copyrighted materials to develop artificial intelligence models. This legal maneuver highlights an evolving…
In what is shaping up to be a significant legal battle over artificial intelligence and copyright, Meta Platforms Inc. and start-up Anthropic have been accused of using pirated books to train their large language models. This class action suit, filed by book publishers and esteemed legal novelist Scott Turow in a New York federal court,…
The recent ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in American Society for Testing and Materials International v. UpCodes Inc. has sparked discussions that could influence ongoing debates over artificial intelligence and copyright law. The court affirmed the denial of a preliminary injunction, finding that UpCodes’ verbatim republication of copyrighted building…
Record company ABKCO Music & Records Inc. and Behr Paint Co. have reached a settlement regarding the unauthorized use of the Rolling Stones’ iconic track “Paint It Black.” The dispute arose when ABKCO accused Behr of using the song in its advertising without securing the appropriate licensing rights. This resolution comes after discussions aimed at…
In a developing legal battle in Los Angeles, attorneys representing Artist Revenue Advocates have accused Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, of sampling an instrumental track without authorization and neglecting to compensate the original creators. This legal claim centers around the listening events for Ye’s 2021 album “Donda,” where the disputed track was allegedly showcased…
In a notable move within the legal sector, a seasoned partner from Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP has transitioned to the Los Angeles office of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. This shift adds significant depth to Pillsbury’s intellectual property (IP) practice. The attorney, who has cultivated a robust reputation for expertise in intellectual property litigation,…
A significant shift has occurred in the intellectual property landscape as a prominent partner from Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP transitions to Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP in Los Angeles. This move is set to bolster Pillsbury’s IP team, enhancing their capabilities in complex litigation and compliance related to the Copyright Act and the Digital…
In a recent ruling, an Illinois federal judge handed a setback to a Chicago rooftop bar owner, denying their motion for a judgment on the pleadings in a lawsuit filed by the Chicago Cubs. The litigation, initiated by the baseball team, alleges that the rooftop venue infringed on the Cubs’ intellectual property rights by selling…
Online retailer Zazzle has reached a settlement in a lawsuit concerning the use of a copyrighted font, resolving claims that the company exceeded the permissions granted under a licensing agreement with the designer. This case highlights ongoing challenges in the digital market, where the use and licensing of digital assets often lead to legal disputes….
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP has announced the addition of Robert L. Uriarte to its Los Angeles office, further strengthening its intellectual property litigation capabilities. Uriarte, who joins from Reed Smith LLP, is known for his expertise in complex intellectual property disputes, particularly those involving emerging technologies. Uriarte’s move to Pillsbury signals a strategic enhancement…
The Tenth Circuit Court issued a ruling on Thursday affirming that Netflix Inc. did not infringe on copyright by incorporating a one-minute funeral clip in its widely viewed “Tiger King” docuseries. The court’s decision emphasized that this use was “significantly transformative,” marking a reversal from an earlier ruling in the case reported by Law360. This…
Al Jazeera is locked in a legal battle in a California federal court, seeking to permanently dismiss a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) claim. The dispute centers on accusations that the broadcaster knowingly embedded its watermark over independently created extreme weather footage shared on YouTube. The network argues that it did not remove any copyright…