Category: Copyright

Copyrights apply to what are called “original works” and come into existence when the original work is created. Copyrights are protected at common law, by state law, and by the federal Copyright Act of 1976. See 17 U.S.C. §101 et seq. Copyrights are potentially quite valuable to an author or business. Examples include the royalty […]

  Recently, Mercedes-Benz created a controversy by photographing its new luxury G-Class SUV vehicle in front of famous street murals created by artists in Detroit. Mercedes-Benz posted several of the photos on Instagram as part of a marketing campaign without the consent of the artists and without compensating them. The photos depicted buildings and murals […]

Sued for Copyright Infringement? Three Questions to Ask Immediately Does the Plaintiff Have a Copyright Registration and When Did it Issue? When Did the Alleged Infringement Occur? Worst Case Scenario, What Kind of Damages Are Reasonably on the Table? If you do not regularly get angry letters from attorneys, reading one that accuses you of […]

Consider the following scenario: You’re a successful business owner, and you have a customer base that’s expanding daily. Recently, you decided it’s time to start a website to continue growing your business, but when you try to register your trademark as your domain name, you find out someone else already owns it. Without warning, you […]

What You Should Know About the EU Copyright Directive In February 2019, the European Union finalized its proposal for reforming its copyright laws, titled “Directive on Copyright Law in the Digital Single Market.” If passed, this EU directive on copyrights could have far-reaching consequences for online service providers and managers of online communities.

FOUR FACTORS OF FAIR USE Copyright law states that at least four factors should be taken into should be taken into consideration when determining fair use: Being sued for copyright infringement can be a serious matter. Civil statutory damages can be as high as $150,000 per infringement if you are found liable for copying someone […]

Digital Millennium Copyright Act and Internet Service Providers The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) was enacted in 1998 to bring the United States up to date with technology and with international intellectual property treaties. While there are many aspects of the DMCA, one of the most important to web hosts and internet service providers (ISPs) […]

If you walk in to a local book shop, the corner bar, the Apple Store, or Target you will likely hear some sort of music playing. Music can help set the tone for your location and enhance your brand while your customers are in your establishment. If you have a brick and mortar business, there […]

Stone sculptures of jewelry-adorned cats dating back to at least 500 BC have been discovered in Egypt. Feline goddesses were recorded in texts dated thousands of years earlier. In 1888, a farmer in Egypt stumbled upon a tomb containing eighty-thousand mummified cats. While it is estimated that the first domesticated cats appeared ten thousand years […]

In today’s market, every business has or should have an official company social media policy guideline or policy statement. Even if your business is small, a policy statement is essential. Indeed, TWO social media policy statements might be necessary if your business uses employees to promote “the brand,” to promote sales and/or to promote interest […]