Category: Copyright

A new copyright troll lawsuit has been filed in the Eastern District of Michigan by the owner of the copyrighted motion picture The Cobbler (Plaintiff). Plaintiff is gathering IP addresses of John Doe defendants that allegedly downloaded The Cobbler without permission using a BitTorrent platform. Plaintiff’s lawsuit is a classic example of copyright trolling, a […]

There are three types of intellectual property. They include: (1) trademark; (2) patent; and (3) copyright law. As discussed in Trade Dress Protection, “[a] trademark is a mechanism for identifying the source of a good or service and a technique for providing marketing advantages for the owner of the trademark.” Moreover, while a patent protects […]

An interesting debate is emerging in the US Copyright Office: what, if anything, should the US Copyright Office do about the materials that are used in 3D printers? Under Section 1201 of the Copyright Act, “No person shall circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a work protected under this title.” In the […]

While the Copyright Act of 1976 (hereinafter Copyright Act) does not explicitly recognize indirect liability, courts have held third parties liable for copyright infringement under two common law doctrines. They include: contributory Infringement; and vicarious Liability. In the Copyright Act, “Congress recognized secondary liability, [also referred to as indirect liability], in the grant of rights […]

As stated in Statutory Damages Under Copyright Law, “an infringer of copyright is liable for either — (1) the copyright owner’s actual damages and any additional profits of the infringer; or (2) statutory damages.” 17 U.S.C. §504(a). In addition to the actual damages entitled to the copyright owner who suffered as a result of the […]

With viral videos racking in around four billion views per day on Facebook, several copyright infringement issues are becoming more apparent, and they are stemming from these popular videos. According to a recent article in the Business Insider, “There is more money than ever before in online video. YouTube stars like Zoella, [also known as […]

Under the Copyright Act of 1976 (hereinafter Copyright Act), “an infringer of copyright is liable for either: (1) the copyright owner’s actual damages and any additional profits of the infringer; or (2) statutory damages.” 17 U.S.C. §504(a). Statutory Damages Defined Statutory damages are damages that may be awarded in civil law and are stipulated in […]

Before snapping that photo of your delicious and ornately plated vegan omelet, make sure you get the light right. Get the proper angle, make sure the omelet is in a good mood—don’t be lazy! Why? Well, because that picture may be worth up to $90,000. We’re as surprised as you are. But instead of letting […]

In overturning a summary judgement ruling to the contrary, the 11th Circuit ruled that a digital representation of stained wood used in laminate flooring may be copyrightable. To make laminate flooring that looks like real wood floors, Mannington Mills, Inc. creates large digital images that attempt to mirror natural wood designs that are then layered […]

Sorry Gavin, Your Lawsuit is Doomed Even Under the Work-For-Hire Doctrine In the HBO show “Silicon Valley,” the antagonist CEO of a fictional company is suing the shows protagonist under the work-for-hire doctrine. Richard, the young software developer is on the verge of changing the technology industry—and making loads of cash—with a brand new, super-awesome […]