Many people incorrectly assume that they have the right to use any image that they can find on the internet. For example, they may have done a quick Google image search to find a photo to accompany a blog post. However, those images are still covered by copyright....
It’s true that courts can dismiss infringement cases where the alleged use is considered de minimis, which means it was so insignificant that the court would not decide on the case. However, don't let this trick you into believing you can copy a little bit of a...
Many people assume that they are free to use copyright protected materials as long as they provide the proper attribution for the source of the materials. Unfortunately, attribution is not a substitute for securing permission. For business purposes, you must obtain...
How much do you have to contribute to a creative project to claim joint authorship? Periodically individuals call me and explain that they have been working on a book or a screenplay with a friend, and now they are not getting along due to a dispute over the content...
There is no shortage of things to get done before the end of the year, so don’t let your copyright concerns fall by the wayside. In my last post, I shared one important task for companies with DMCA agents to complete before year-end: re-file your registration with the...
When preparing to-do lists this holiday season, don’t forget to include protecting your business from infringement liability and securing copyright assets. In particular, there are two tasks you should complete before 2017 ends. Task 1: Re-file Your DMCA Agent...
Why Estate Planning and Copyrights Can Get Complicated Fast Many are aware that the 1976 Copyright Act grants copyright protection for an artist’s lifetime plus 70 years. However, it also grants a less commonly known form of protection, which only became available in...
The copyright for a tattoo design is often owned by the artist. But once that design is inked on the body, does that artist own the copyright of that image, too? In the popular NBA 2K video game series, players such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kenyon Martin, and...