Happy Public Domain Day
FishBits: Mini Article Volume 25, Issue 1
Public Domain Day is celebrated on January 1st and commemorates the expiration of copyright protection for certain creative works.
Thanksgiving Football Tradition with a side dish of Copyright Infringement
FishBits: Mini Article Volume 24, Issue 20
In the US, Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. For many, Thanksgiving and (American) football go hand-in-hand, with the Detroit Lions’ game as much a staple of the holiday as turkey and pie. However, this year’s game arrives amid controversy: Lions’ legendary Hall of Famer Barry Sanders is facing a lawsuit alleging copyright infringement.
Sonny Bono’s Widow Must Pay Cher Royalties
FishBits: Mini Article Volume 24, Issue 19
After three years of litigation, a court has held that the “beat that goes on” for Cher’s right to continue receiving royalties on songs created during her marriage to Sonny Bono, despite attempts by Sonny’s widow, Mary Bono, to invoke federal copyright termination rights to end those payments.
Who Ya Gonna Call? Ghostbusters Win Infringement Lawsuit
FishBits: Mini Article Volume 24, Issue 18
Watching scary movies is a time-honored Halloween tradition, and one of the greatest movies to watch this time of year is “Ghostbusters” which premiered in 1984.
A Copyright Ghost Story by Mark Twain
FishBits: Mini Article Volume 24, Issue 17
Halloween is coming up at the end of this month, and we are celebrating a little early with the spooky copyright story of Jap Herron!
Banana Taped to Wall–Copyright Lawsuit Loses on A-peel
FishBits: Mini Article Volume 24, Issue 16
In 2023, California artist Joe Morford lost his copyright infringement lawsuit against Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. Morford claimed that Cattelan’s viral artwork “Comedian,” which features a banana duct-taped to a wall, was a copy of his own work, “Banana and Orange.”
ATLIENS vs. ATLiens, Let Me Hear You Say “O-Nay-Yer”
Fish Tank: Newsletter Volume 24, Issue 22
Last month, Outkast filed suit against ATLiens Touring, seeking an injunction against ATLiens Touring’s continued use of ATLiens and seeking damages.
NBA Teams Sued for Copyright Infringement
FishBits: Mini Article Volume 24, Issue 15
Fourteen teams of the US National Basketball Association (NBA) have been sued in federal district court for copyright infringement. The complaints were filed by companies claiming to own rights in various musical works.
Protecting Digital Content in the Age of Social Media
Fish Tank: Newsletter Volume 24, Issue 18
In the digital age, social media has become a powerful platform for content creation, enabling individuals and businesses to reach wide audiences. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have made it easy for anyone with a smartphone and an internet connection to create and share content.
Copyright Infringement on the Campaign Trail
FishBits: Mini Article Volume 24, Issue 13
In a recent decision, the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a jury verdict holding that the use of the “Success Kid” meme by a congressman’s reelection campaign for fundraising purposes did not qualify as fair use.