U.S. Copyright Office Provides Clarity On Single Application Eligibility
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Music Modernization Act Signed Into Law
On October 11, 2018, President Trump signed into law the long-anticipated Music Modernization Act (“MMA”), legislation focused on shepherding the existing music licensing system into the digital age. Among the highlights, the MMA provides for blanket mechanical licensing and a licensing collective charged with managing mechanical license royalty payments to composers and publishers. The MMA is divided into three major titles, each focused on addressing certain perceived gaps in the existing structure. Some highlights are…
United Cannabis Corp. v. Pure Hemp Collective Inc. – Why The (Cannabis) World Is Watching
We have received an unusually high number of inquiries from clients and commentators concerning the patent infringement action filed by United Cannabis Corporation (UCANN) against Pure Hemp Collective Inc. late last month. (See United Cannabis Corp. v. Pure Hemp Collective Inc., Case No. 1:18-cv-01922-NYW (D.Colo).) For those not paying attention, the case involves allegations that Pure Hemp’s tinctures, gel capsules, vape pens, and other cannabis products infringe one or more claims of UCANN’s patent…
We May Finally Learn When You Can Sue For Copyright Infringement
The U.S. Copyright Act permits, but does not require, registration of copyright-protected works with the U.S. Copyright Office. Nevertheless, under the U.S. Copyright Act, registration by the Copyright Office (or ruling by the Copyright Office refusing to register) is, among other things, a prerequisite to bringing a copyright infringement action. The federal courts have long disagreed about whether an application for registration satisfies the rule. In other words, does the copyright owner have to wait…
Blurred Lines: You Could Decide The Next Big Music Copyright Case!
In 2015, a California jury decided that the mega-hit “Blurred Lines” by Pharrell Williams, Robin Thicke, and Clifford Harris (a/k/a “T.I.”) infringed the copyright in Marvin Gaye’s song, “Got To Give It Up.” The jury awarded Gaye’s heirs $7.4 million. Last week, a panel of the federal court of appeals in San Francisco affirmed the judgment in 2-1 split decision. Williams v. Gaye, No. 15-56880 (9th Cir. March 21, 2018).
The appeals court decision confirmed…
ALERT: Register (Or Re-Register) Your DMCA Agent Online By December 31, 2017 Or Lose Safe Harbor Eligibility For User-Generated Content On Your Website
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) affords an invaluable safe harbor to online “service providers” (as that term is very broadly defined in the DMCA) for copyright infringement claims arising from user-generated content posted to a service provider’s website. To be eligible, service providers must satisfy several criteria. For example, service providers must implement a policy for the termination of repeat infringers and comply with certain “standard technical measures” used by copyright owners to identify…
Branding Revisited: Takeaways From the 2016 Managing the Trademark Asset Lifecycle Conference
Last week I was fortunate to attend the Managing the Trademark Asset Lifecycle Conference, hosted by World Trademark Review. The topics discussed throughout the day touched on everything from assessing portfolio strength and valuation to leveraging the financial value of a brand. Although it is impossible to touch on all the points covered during this full-day conference, there were several high-level takeaways worth sharing.
The Three F’s of Intellectual Property Audits: Foresight, Fluidity And…
Did My UK IP Rights Just “Brexit” The European Union?
One of the overlooked issues of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union is the implications of “Brexit” on the rights afforded to individuals and entities holding European Union trademark and design registrations (a/k/a “EU Community Registrations”). The EU Community Registration process has become favored by many trademark owners across the globe for a number of reasons, the most obvious being the ability to obtain protection in all EU member states with a single application…
Whole Lotta Love for Zeppelin in Jury Verdict On Stairway Copyright Trial
After less than a day of deliberation, a California jury has found the members of the legendary group Led Zeppelin (and their record label) did not copy the famous opening riff of Stairway to Heaven from an earlier song by the band Spirit. Applying basic copyright principles, the jury found that while Jimmy Page and Robert Plant may have heard Spirit’s song Taurus before composing the opening of Stairway, the songs were not “substantially similar.”…
Federal Circuit Upholds Home Field Advantage in Generic Drug Cases
Under United States law, the holder of a patent on a brand-name, FDA-approved drug can bring suit for patent infringement against a generic drug manufacturer even before the generic manufacturer brings the drug to market. That right to sue is triggered by the generic manufacturer’s filing of the short-cut application to the FDA to sell the drug known as an Abbreviated New Drug Application, or “ANDA.” On March 18, 2016, the Federal Circuit Court of…