Legalease
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Monday, Sep. 25, 2023
The Girl with the Tiger King Tattoo Loses Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Against Netflix
Tattoos again. (See here and here .) In the early days of the pandemic, tattoo parlors across the country - including one owned by plaintiff Molly Cramer - were shuttered due to the threat of viral transmission between ink slinger and client. In an attempt to generate enough income to reopen her...
Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022
Works Published in 1927 Enter the Public Domain In The U.S.
In 1927 , Calvin Coolidge was president, the first commercial flight of Pan American Airways took off (leaving Key West bound for Havana), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was founded, singer Eartha Kitt was born, and artist Juan Gris died. And on January 1, 2023, all literary works...
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022
RIP: The Traditional SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract
The end of an era has come. The “traditional” SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract will expire on December 31, 2022, and on January 1, 2023, the “new” SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract, with updated compensation and editing structures, will be the only game in town. Fortunately, SAG-AFTRA and The Joint...
Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022
Jeff Koons Accused of Copyright Infringement For Unauthorized Use of a Snake Sculpture in Three Iconic Works
Plaintiff Michael Hayden is an American who, in the late 1980s, was living la dolce vita in Italy, working as an artist and set designer. Among his gigs was designing sets and props for films featuring Italian adult film star (and future member of the Italian Parliament) Ilona Staller, better known...
Friday, Dec. 17, 2021
It's That (SAG-AFTRA) Time of Year ...
It’s that time again. The current SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract and the SAG-AFTRA Audio Commercials Contract (the "Commercial Contracts") will expire on March 31, 2021, and negotiations for successor contracts will begin early next year. The ANA-4A’s Joint Policy Committee on Broadcast Talent...
Monday, Nov. 8, 2021
Did Country Rap Artist UpChurch Infringe Copyright and Violate VARA When He "Shot to Hell" an Artist's Paintings... with Bullets?
Plaintiff Jacob Aaron Leveille is a visual artist who lives in Florida. (You can check out his work on Instagram .) Defendant Ryan Edward Upchurch is a rapper, singer, songwriter and comedian who, according to his Wikipedia page , coined the phrase "raise hell and eat cornbread." (You can listen to...
Monday, Oct. 11, 2021
"Scary Terry" Rozier Beats Copyright Claim Brought By Owner of Ghost Mask from Horror Pic SCREAM
Pro baller Terry Rozier (our defendant) began his career with the Boston Celtics and now plays for the Charlotte Hornets. Rozier's reputation around the NBA as a “dangerous scorer” and “fearless shooter" eventually earned him the nickname “Scary Terry.” (For more on the origins of the nickname, see...
Monday, Sep. 20, 2021
Instagram Prevails with "Server Test" Defense in Photo Embedding Case
Yet another photo embedding case, but this time Instagram wins based on the court's application of the "server test." The plaintiffs own the copyright in photos that they voluntarily posted on Instagram. They sued Instagram in the Northern District of California, alleging that Instagram is...
Thursday, Sep. 16, 2021
SAG-AFTRA and JPC Issue Requirements For Vaccine Mandates For Commercial Shoots
The Joint Policy Committee ("JPC") and SAG-AFTRA have issued requirements for producers that wish to issue policies mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for performers in commercials. These requirements are included in an addendum to the COVID-19 Commercial Production Safety and Testing Protocol...
Monday, Aug. 23, 2021
Lawsuit Challenging (Mis)Use of Academy Award Statuette Survives Motion to Dismiss
Since 1949, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Inc. and Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (together, the "Academies”) have bestowed Emmy Awards on worthy recipients to recognize excellence and achievement in television. (Not that they always get it right: after all, it...