What’s Allowed under Fair Use of Copyright-Protected Work?
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Jun 13, 2019 in Copyrights
Copyright registrations protect owners’ original works from other people reproducing, distributing, displaying, and/or performing the original works or creating derivative works. But the laws surrounding copyright protection are not exactly sealed tight. References to copyright-protected work are all around us, and you can bet that most of those people did not get permission. So when is the use of copyrighted material okay? And when does it cross the line? The United States Copyright Act has […]
Continue ReadingBy Edward L. Birk and Crystal T. Broughan In a recent post, we wrote about the fast-paced world of broadcasting, made even faster by the Internet age, and how this has led to the temptation of pulling imagery from websites without confirming copyright and securing proper permission. The reuse of online content is very easy to accomplish. The consequences can be very painful to the bank account. According to Federal court listings, a comparison of […]
Continue ReadingThings You Cannot Copyright
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Feb 21, 2019 in Copyrights
Advancements in internet and new media technology have given rise to information and creative materials spreading faster and wider than ever before in history. In turn, the sheer amount of copyright-protected material has increased exponentially. Not surprisingly, litigation pertaining to copyright violations has exploded over the last decade as well. However, there are still a few areas to which copyright protection does not extend. Before contacting the U.S. Copyright Office, there are two primary […]
Continue ReadingJewelry Designs and Copyright Protection
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Jan 31, 2019 in Copyrights
Copyright law protects many different types of original artistic expressions that are original to the creator and fixed in a tangible form. Artistic pieces like earrings, necklaces, broaches, rings, and bracelets may be protected by copyright law if there are original creative elements that can be identified separately from the functional aspects of the piece of jewelry. So the clasp on the necklace may not be protected, but the original design of the part of the […]
Continue ReadingDance Moves – Can You Claim Copyright Infringement?
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Jan 24, 2019 in Copyrights
Written by Guest Author, Marks Gray Associate Logan McEwen The boundaries of copyright law are tested in an increasingly digital world, but digital arts can give a new perspective on old issues. Like the question: can you claim copyright infringement for a dance move? That is the question raised by claims against the videogame Fortnite from entertainers Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton, Fresh Prince of Bel Air), Terrence Ferguson (rapper 2 Milly), and Russell Horning (Backpack Kid). […]
Continue ReadingCompanies Should Take Note of This Street Artist Win
Crystal Broughan, Intellectual Property Attorney Nov 1, 2018 in Copyrights
A Los Angeles federal judge recently rejected General Motors’ attempt to dismiss a lawsuit by a street artist whose parking garage mural was used in a 2016 Cadillac ad campaign without permission. That may seem like no big deal – after all, it’s not like the artist has won the case yet. However, it could open the floodgates for other street artists to sue for damages when their work is depicted without their permission. The […]
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