Court Decisions Archives | Copyright Lately

After failing to defend a copyright infringement lawsuit, actress Sofia Vergara was ordered to pay $750 in statutory damages, which is substantially less than the plaintiff photographer was seeking.

After failing to defend a copyright lawsuit against her, the actress is ordered to pay only minimum statutory damages. Did Vergara just get lucky, or is default a smart litigation strategy?

Sony Music has prevailed in a copyright infringement case over R. Kelly’s “Love Letter” because the plaintiff’s song was not fixed in a tangible medium of expression.

CCourt Decisions

No Copyright Claim in Song Based on Unfixed Phone Conversation

byAaron Moss

Sony Music has prevailed in a copyright infringement case over R. Kelly’s “Love Letter” because the plaintiff’s song was not fixed in a tangible medium of expression.

Taylor Swift won a copyright infringement lawsuit over "Shake It Off" for the fifth time

CCourt Decisions

Taylor Swift Prevails in Copyright Case—For the Fifth Time

byAaron Moss

A judge has dismissed the latest in a string of copyright infringement lawsuits over the lyrics to the Taylor Swift hit "Shake it Off."

The Ninth Circuit has rejected a fair use defense for the Dr. Seuss/Star Trek mashup "Oh, the Places You Will Boldly Go," finding that the work is not a parody and not otherwise transformative under the Copyright Act

CCourt Decisions

No Fair Use Defense for Dr. Seuss/Star Trek Mashup

byAaron Moss

The Ninth Circuit's fair use ruling is an early Christmas present for copyright owners and a lump of coal for creators of unauthorized mash-ups that don't ridicule the original works.

A community swim team has been awarded over $120,000 in attorneys' fees for successfully defeating a claim for copyright infringement

CCourt Decisions

Court Awards $122K in Attorneys’ Fees to Nonprofit Swim Team After Copyright Win

byAaron Moss

The Court finds that "leveling exorbitant settlement demands at nonprofits and public schools does not advance the purposes of the Copyright Act" after the plaintiff demanded $25,000 for a single Twitter post to a community swim account followed by 44 people.

CCourt Decisions

Copyright Termination and Loan-Out Corporations, Revisited

byAaron Moss

How a common entertainment industry tax planning tool may prevent artists and their heirs from utilizing the Copyright Act’s termination provision.

A copyright Infringement lawsuit by Randy Orton's tattoo artist against Take-Two Interactive and WWE is sent to trial

CCourt Decisions

Tattoo Feud: Artist’s Copyright Case (Inexplicably) Sent to Trial

byAaron Moss

In a decision with frightening implications, a court in Illinois holds that a jury will decide whether Randy Orton's tattoo artist can control the use of the wrestler’s image in video games.

A lawsuit alleging that "Prank Encounters" infringes the copyright in "Scare Tactics" will proceed

CCourt Decisions

Court Allows Copyright Case Against Hidden Camera Prank Show to Proceed

byAaron Moss

A judge rules on a motion to dismiss copyright infringement claims brought by the co-creator of "Scare Tactics" against his former business partner and the producer of "Prank Encounters," another hidden camera prank/scare show.

Nicki Minaj prevails on fair use claim against Tracy Chapman on summary judgment

CCourt Decisions

Nicki Minaj’s Creation of New Recording Based on Tracy Chapman Song Deemed Fair Use

byAaron Moss

After finding a triable issue of fact on whether Nicki Minaj was responsible for leaking "Sorry" to a New York DJ, the court holds that Minaj's initial creation of her derivative song did not infringe Tracy Chapman's copyright in "Baby Can I Hold You."

Court Decisions

Sofia Vergara Defaults, Ordered to Pay $750 for Instagram Infringement

No Copyright Claim in Song Based on Unfixed Phone Conversation

Taylor Swift Prevails in Copyright Case—For the Fifth Time

No Fair Use Defense for Dr. Seuss/Star Trek Mashup

Court Awards $122K in Attorneys’ Fees to Nonprofit Swim Team After Copyright Win

Copyright Termination and Loan-Out Corporations, Revisited

Tattoo Feud: Artist’s Copyright Case (Inexplicably) Sent to Trial

Court Allows Copyright Case Against Hidden Camera Prank Show to Proceed

Nicki Minaj’s Creation of New Recording Based on Tracy Chapman Song Deemed Fair Use

Is Trump Office’s Use of the Great Seal Legal?

The Copyright Myth Project

Sorry Not Sorry? Tracy Chapman, Nicki Minaj and a Short Lesson on Intermediate Copying

Inside Yoko Ono’s Copyright Lawsuit Against John Lennon’s Former Assistant

SiriusXM Looks to Preempt “Stuttering John” Lawsuit