In a recent episode of the One54 Africa podcast, Zimbabwe-born comedian Learnmore Mwanyenyeky playfully interpreted the iconic chant featured in Disney’s 1994 film, “The Lion King.” This lighthearted moment, however, has spotlighted the complex legal landscape surrounding podcast content, particularly when it brushes up against big entertainment entities. Disney’s potential legal action could further complicate…
Netflix’s long-standing chief legal officer, David Hyman, is projected to face a $2 million reduction in his compensation package for 2025. This anticipated decrease reflects a shift in the company’s financial strategy as it navigates the evolving landscape of streaming services. The change in Hyman’s compensation comes at a time when Netflix is reassessing its…
Nvidia Corp. is currently navigating a challenging legal landscape as a California federal judge has signaled an unwillingness to entirely dismiss a proposed class action initiated by a group of authors. The plaintiffs allege that Nvidia unlawfully used their copyrighted content to train its large language models (LLMs). During recent proceedings, the judge indicated that…
In a recent legal development, a federal judge in Manhattan has refused to dismiss a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) claim against AI-powered music generator Udio. Music companies have alleged that Udio illegally used their copyrighted material to train its music-generating algorithms. The court’s decision underscores the ongoing intersectional challenges of copyright law and artificial…
As artificial intelligence (AI) startups continue to thrive and innovate, copyright law has emerged as a pivotal domain requiring nuanced legal expertise. Legal professionals within the AI sector, particularly those specializing in copyright, are becoming indispensable allies to these burgeoning companies. An insightful examination of this trend can be found in an article by Bloomberg…
In a recent development in copyright litigation, a federal judge in North Carolina has upheld a $4 million jury verdict against Transtate Equipment Co., confirming the company’s violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). The decision maintains the jury’s conclusion that Transtate, an independent service organization, infringed upon the copyrights held by Philips, a…
The intersection of artificial intelligence and copyright law is increasingly becoming a focal point for legal professionals, particularly when it comes to software code. As AI systems advance in generating and manipulating code, securing copyright protection becomes a challenging task. The implications of these developments are significant for both developers and corporations seeking to protect…
On April 14, 2026, a panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit deliberated on the appeal of a group of businesses seeking to revive their copyright and trademark infringement lawsuit against Walmart and an e-commerce company. The central issue under consideration was whether the plaintiffs had inappropriately broadened their safe harbor…
U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff recently issued a default judgment in a significant $300 million piracy case involving the online shadow library Anna’s Archive. Judge Rakoff described the infringement as one of the most severe he has encountered in his judicial career. The case, brought forth by a coalition of music companies, highlights the…
In a recent legal dispute, Chinese artificial intelligence companies are urging a California federal court to dismiss a lawsuit brought against them by entertainment giants Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Universal. The claimants argue that these AI firms are illicitly utilizing their intellectual property. The AI companies, however, assert that the allegations are unfounded, characterizing…
In a significant legal maneuver, Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, asserting that the Court’s recent decision in a copyright case involving an internet company supports its position in an ongoing patent dispute. The case at hand involves Hikma’s generic version of a heart medication originally developed by Amarin Pharma…
The rise of generative AI tools in the tech industry is reshaping the development of software code, with companies increasingly relying on these tools to boost productivity and innovation. However, this shift is revealing potential vulnerabilities in copyright protection. As organizations depend more on AI to generate code, challenges emerge regarding the exclusivity of intellectual…
In the past week, several significant developments have emerged in the corporate legal landscape, impacting in-house counsel and corporate governance. LexisNexis has introduced Practical Guidance AI & Technology, a new task-based practice area designed to assist legal professionals in navigating the complexities of artificial intelligence and technology law. This platform aims to provide comprehensive guidance…
The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has recently ruled in favor of UpCodes, a legal tech startup known for publishing building codes and technical standards online. In its decision, the court concluded that posting copyrighted standards is likely fair use, particularly in this interim stage of the litigation. This decision affirms a lower court’s…
The Eleventh Circuit has confirmed a $600,000 copyright decision in favor of Dish Network, concluding a protracted legal battle concerning the distribution of Arabic pay-TV programming. The appellate court agreed with the lower court’s determination that Dish Network’s copyrights had been infringed, reinforcing the company’s stance in the ongoing dispute. This decision arises from Dish…
In a recent decision that maintains the longstanding principle of copyright law, the U.S. Supreme Court let stand the requirement that human authorship is necessary for copyright protection. The decision not to hear Thaler v. Perlmutter underscores the Court’s position on creative authorship, especially in an era increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence. Stephen Thaler, whose…
The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in favor of Cox Communications has drawn significant criticism from Shira Perlmutter, the U.S. Copyright Office’s head, who warned of its severe implications at a legal conference. Perlmutter described the judgment as “somewhat cataclysmic,” arguing it substantially narrows the scope of copyright infringement liability. This could affect how digital…
In a significant development in the multidistrict litigation accusing OpenAI of copyright infringement, a New York federal judge has granted an extension for the deposition of an OpenAI employee. This decision follows concerns about the witness’s lack of preparation and numerous objections raised by OpenAI’s legal counsel, which impeded the previous deposition process. The litigation…
The impending Supreme Court case Amarin Pharmaceuticals Inc. v. Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. has captivated the legal community, focusing on a critical aspect of patent law: the interpretation of “skinny labels” in pharmaceuticals. As the oral arguments approach, industry observers and legal professionals are closely examining the divergent strands of intellectual property law that the…
A legal battle unfolding in Manhattan federal court highlights a conflict between a landscape photographer and Shutterstock over the Digital Millennium Copyright Act’s (DMCA) safe harbor provisions. The central question is whether the stock photo company can be held accountable for images uploaded by its users or if these claims are invalid under the DMCA…
Stability AI has requested that a California federal judge dismiss several claims from a substantial lawsuit filed by Getty Images. The legal action accuses the artificial intelligence company of improperly using millions of images belonging to Getty. Stability AI contends that distorted AI-generated images, which display Getty’s watermark, do not constitute trademark dilution, infringement, or…
In a pivotal decision, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the online publication of the American Society for Testing and Materials’ (ASTM) copyrighted technical standards falls under fair use, thus not infringing upon copyright protections. This decision carries significant implications for the public’s access to essential building codes and other standards integral to…
In an ongoing legal battle over copyright issues, a federal judge in Manhattan has ruled that Perplexity AI must provide Dow Jones and other publishers with an additional seven months of internal user-activity logs. This decision, issued on April 7, 2026, underscores the judicial system’s expectations for transparency in technology-related copyright cases, rebuffing Perplexity AI’s…
The United States Supreme Court has overturned a 5th Circuit ruling that had significant implications for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and their role in combating online piracy. This decision affects Grande Communications, which faced legal pressures to terminate broadband services for subscribers accused of engaging in piracy activities. The judgment resonates with a similar case…
A recent settlement has resolved a copyright infringement dispute involving Highland Mint, a sports memorabilia company, and a professional photographer. The case centered on an alleged unauthorized use of a photograph of Barry Sanders, the former Detroit Lions running back, in the making of a collectible statue. Both parties submitted a request to a New…