“Alexa, get me a box of pens, a legal pad, and a Diet Coke!” While this might sound like an order that a hawkish partner at a law firm might bark at a young and innocent associate, this is actually…
The right of publicity provides protection to an individual and prevents another individual or corporation from exploiting their identity or likeness for commercial gain without first securing permission.[1] However, this protection is seemingly non-existent for college athletes and the NCAA…
In continuation of an ongoing battle, the Department of Justice has filed a notice that it will appeal the September 2016 decision by Judge Stanton which concluded that fractional licensing is allowed under the current Broadcast Music, Inc. (“BMI”) consent decree.[1] Back…
Earlier this month the Central District Court of California made a ruling that Axanar Productions cannot claim fair use as a defense in the Paramount and CBS copyright lawsuit over a fan-made prequel to the Star Trek series. In 2015,…
The state of New Jersey continues to push for the legalization of sports betting within its borders in the case Governor Christopher J. Christie, et al. v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, et al. The latest appeal by New Jersey currently…
Producers of London Fields are suing actress Amber Heard for $10 million, as the most recent complaint in the string of lawsuits regarding the film.[1] Nicola Six Limited and producers, Chris Hanley and Jordan Gertner, are alleging Heard to have…
For those English language lovers, the word “synecdoche” (pronounced si-NEK-də-kee) is a figure of speech in which a word is used to represent the whole of something else. Thus, the city of Hollywood, California represents, figuratively, the whole of the…
Introduction In the year 2015 alone, the United States fashion industry generated over $343 billion in revenue.[1] Fashion is not just a business—it is also a respected art form in the United States.[2] Despite the economic and artistic significance of…
In the last few years US patentability standards have remained unclear, and in some cases, become even more confusing. With the November election looming, a lame duck session following, and the signing of the TPP a few months prior, now…
In light of a recent FCC proposal to abrogate the exclusivity rules which prevent a cable provider from reproducing a program where a broadcaster has obtained exclusive rights, this post will discuss the history and justification of these rules. A.…
Lord and Taylor, Warner Brothers, and L’Oreal all have something in common. Each of these companies have employed “social media influencers” to advertise their products and brands to consumers on social media.[1] Social media influencers (“influencers”) tend to be described…
Diversity in comics is always important but currently it is a hot topic in the comic book industry and broader pop culture fandom discourse.[1] In the vein of a modern legacy of reintroducing characters of color in their own titles,[2]…
