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…
In a notable legal development, Shein, the fast fashion powerhouse, has successfully navigated a legal challenge from Brandy Melville, a prominent retail brand. A federal judge in California dismissed Brandy Melville’s trademark infringement and unfair competition claims, determining that these allegations were precluded by the U.S. Copyright Act. This decision marks a significant moment in…
In a significant move, five technology industry groups have petitioned a California federal judge to rule that the use of copyrighted music in training artificial intelligence models constitutes fair use. This request comes amidst a legal battle involving Anthropic, accused of infringing copyrights while training its AI model, Claude. The tech groups argue that employing…
In a recent development within the ongoing copyright infringement lawsuit initiated by Warner Music Group (WMG) against Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW), an Ohio federal judge has mandated that WMG disclose its licensing agreements with social media platforms. This directive aims to shed light on the extent of authorized music usage in social media contexts, a…
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technology in music production is raising new concerns about copyright infringement. Musicians and composers are increasingly worried as AI algorithms, often described as “vibe coding,” generate music that mimics or replicates existing copyrighted works. This burgeoning issue necessitates fresh legal scrutiny, particularly in the realm of ownership and intellectual…
The artist formerly known as Kanye West, now known as Ye, confronted a legal setback as a California federal judge denied his request to delay a trial concerning copyright infringement allegations related to his “Donda” album. The trial, set to begin on May 4, will proceed as planned despite Ye’s attempts to defer it, citing…
Taylor Swift, the renowned pop icon, is taking a bold legal step by filing for trademark registrations of her voice. This move highlights a creative strategy in combatting the misuse of her vocal likeness by artificial intelligence (AI). In an era where AI-generated content is increasingly prevalent, the legal community is closely watching how such…
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has initiated legal proceedings against the “Mormon Stories” podcast, alleging trademark and copyright infringement. The lawsuit contends that the podcast’s use of the term “Mormon,” along with certain design elements, may lead audiences to mistakenly believe it is affiliated with or endorsed by the Church. In November…
The reintroduction of the Protecting and Enhancing Public Access to Codes (Pro Codes) Act has ignited a contentious debate over the intersection of copyright law and public access to legal standards. This bipartisan legislation, spearheaded by Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), aims to allow standards development organizations (SDOs) to retain copyright over…
The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked an evolving dialogue around intellectual property (IP) law, raising questions about how creativity is protected in the digital age. With AI systems capable of generating art, music, and literature, legal professionals are grappling with issues around ownership and rights to AI-generated content. This new frontier challenges traditional…
In a recent legal development, a Florida federal judge has ruled to dismiss portions of a lawsuit brought by a collection of photographers against Uber Technologies Inc. The plaintiffs alleged that UberEats, the popular food delivery service, had infringed on their copyrights by using their photographs without permission. The court, however, determined that one of…
The recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in Cox Communications Inc. v. Sony Music Entertainment may prompt legislative action due to its implications on copyright infringement cases. On March 25, the Court held that the intent for contributory copyright infringement can only be established if a defendant induced the infringement or if the service…
In a recent legal development, a federal judge in California dismissed one of the seven counts in Getty Images’ lawsuit against Stability AI, focusing on allegations surrounding artificial intelligence-generated images. Despite the partial dismissal, the majority of Getty’s claims are set to proceed. These include accusations that Stability AI’s image generator unlawfully integrates portions of…